Isolated Bacterial Strain of the Genus Burkholderia and Pesticidal Metabolites Therefrom

ABSTRACT

A species of  Burkholderia  sp with no known pathogenicity to vertebrates but with pesticidal activity (e.g., plants, insects, fungi, weeds and nematodes) is provided. Also provided are natural products derived from a culture of said species and methods of controlling pests using said natural products.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/192,016, filed Jun. 24, 2016, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/336,601, filed Jul. 21, 2014, and application Ser. No. 13/843,971, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/034,575, filed Feb. 24, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Application Ser. No. 13/034,575 claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/308,287, filed Feb. 25, 2010 and priority to Application Ser. No. 61/406,541, filed Oct. 25, 2010 under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The contents of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/308,287, filed Feb. 25, 2010 and U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/406,541, filed Oct. 25, 2010 are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Provided herein is a species of Burkholderia sp with no known pathogenicity to vertebrates, such as mammals, fish and birds but pesticidal activity against plants, insects, fungi and nematodes. Also provided are natural products derived from a culture of said species and methods of controlling germination and growth of dicotyledenous, monocotyledonous and sedge weeds, modulating growth of fungi and controlling pests such as insects and nematodes using said natural products.

BACKGROUND

Natural products are substances produced by microbes, plants, and other organisms. Microbial natural products offer an abundant source of chemical diversity, and there is a long history of utilizing natural products for pharmaceutical purposes. One such compound is FR901228 isolated from Chromobacterium and has been found to be useful as an antibacterial agent and antitumor agent (see, for example, Ueda et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,396,665).

However, secondary metabolites produced by microbes have also been successfully found to have uses for weed and pest control in agricultural applications (see, for example, Nakajima et al. 1991; Duke et al., 2000; Lydon & Duke, 1999; Gerwick et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,812). Microbial natural products have been also successfully developed into agricultural insecticides (see, for example, Salama et al. 1981; Thompson et al., 2000; Krieg et al. 1983). Sometimes, such natural products have been combined with chemical pesticides (see, for example, Gottlieb, U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,207).

Burkholderia

The Burkholderia genus, β-subdivision of the proteobacteria, comprises more than 40 species that inhabit diverse ecological niches (Compant et al., 2008). The bacterial species in the genus Burkholderia are ubiquitous organisms in soil and rhizosphere (Coenye and Vandamme, 2003; Parke and Gurian-Sherman, 2001). Traditionally, they have been known as plant pathogens, B. cepacia being the first one discovered and identified as the pathogen causing disease in onions (Burkholder, 1950). Several Burkholderia species have developed beneficial interactions with their plant hosts (see, for example, Cabballero-Mellado et al., 2004, Chen et al., 2007). Some Burkholderia species have also been found to be opportunistic human pathogens (see, for example, Cheng and Currie, 2005 and Nierman et al., 2004). Additionally, some Burkholderia species have been found to have potential as biocontrol products (see for example, Burkhead et al., 1994; Knudsen et al., 1987; Jansiewicz et al., 1988; Gouge et al., US Patent Application No. 2003/0082147; Parke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,505; Casida et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,357; Jeddeloh et al., WO2001055398; Zhang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,141,407). Some species of in this genus have been effective in bioremediation to decontaminate polluted soil or groundwater (see, for example, Leahy et al. 1996). Further, some Burkholderia species have been found to secrete a variety of extracellular enzymes with proteolytic, lipolytic and hemolytic activities, as well as toxins, antibiotics, and siderophores (see, for example, Ludovic et al., 2007; Nagamatsu, 2001).

Oxazoles, Thiazoles and Indoles

Oxazoles, thiazoles and indoles are widely distributed in plants, algae, sponges, and microorganisms. A large number of natural products contain one or more of the five-membered oxazole, thiazole and indole nucleus/moieties. These natural products exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activity of demonstrable therapeutic value. For example, bleomycin A (Tomohisa et al.), a widely prescribed anticancer drug, effects the oxidative degradation of DNA and uses a bithiazole moiety to bind its target DNA sequences (Vanderwall et al., 1997). Bacitracin (Ming et al., 2002), a thiazoline-containing peptide antibiotic, interdicts bacterial cell wall new biosynthesis by complexation with C55-bactoprenolpyrophosphate. Thiangazole (Kunze et al., 1993) contains a tandem array of one oxazole and three thiazolines and exhibits antiviral activity (Jansen et al., 1992). Yet other oxazole/thiazole-containing natural products such as thiostrepton (Anderson et al., 1970) and GE2270A (Selva et al., 1997) inhibit translation steps in bacterial protein synthesis. More than 1000 alkaloids with the indole skeleton have been reported from microorganisms. One-third of these compounds are peptides with masses beyond 500 Da where the indole is tryptophan derived. The structural variety of the remaining two-thirds is higher, and their biological activity seems to cover a broader range, including antimicrobial, antiviral, cytotoxic, insecticidal, antithrombotic, or enzyme inhibitory activity.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Provided herein is an isolated strain of a non-Burkholderia cepacia, non-Burkholderia plantari, non-Burkholderia gladioli, Burkholderia sp. which has the following characteristics:

-   -   a. Has a 16S rRNA gene sequence comprising a forward sequences         having at least 99.0% identity to the sequences set forth in SEQ         ID NO:8, 11 and 12 and a reverse sequence having at least 99.0%         identity to SEQ ID NO:9, 10, 13-15;     -   b. Has pesticidal, in particular, herbicidal, insecticidal,         fungicidal and nematicidal activity;     -   c. Produces at least one of the compounds selected from the         group consisting of:         -   (i) a compound having the following properties: (a) a             molecular weight of about 525-555 as determined by Liquid             Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS); (b) ¹NMR values of             6.22, 5.81, 5.69, 5.66, 5.65, 4.64, 4.31, 3.93, 3.22, 3.21,             3.15, 3.10, 2.69, 2.62, 2.26, 2.23. 1.74, 1.15, 1.12, 1.05,             1.02; (c) has ¹³C NMR values of 172.99, 172.93, 169.57,             169.23, 167.59, 130.74, 130.12, 129.93, 128.32, 73.49,             62.95, 59.42, 57.73, 38.39, 38.00, 35.49, 30.90, 30.36,             29.26, 18.59, 18.38, 18.09, 17.93, 12.51 and (c) an High             Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of             about 10-15 minutes, on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC column             using a water: acetonitrile (CH₃CN) gradient;         -   (ii) a compound having an oxazolyl-indole structure             comprising at least one indole moiety, at least one oxazole             moiety, at least one substituted alkyl group and at least             one carboxylic ester group; at least 17 carbons and at least             3 oxygen and 2 nitrogens;         -   (iii) a compound having an oxazolyl-benzyl structure             comprising at least one benzyl moiety, at least one oxazole             moiety, at least one substituted alkyl group and at least             one amide group; at least 15 carbons and at least 2 oxygen             and 2 nitrogens;         -   (iv) a compound having at least one ester, at least one             amide, at least three methylene groups, at least one             tetrahydropyranose moiety and at least three olefinic double             bonds, at least six methyl groups, at least three hydroxyl             groups, at least twenty five carbons and at least eight             oxygen and one nitrogen and     -   d. is non-pathogenic (non-infectious) to vertebrate animals,         such as mammals, birds and fish;     -   e. is susceptible to kanamycin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin,         piperacillin, imipenem, and a combination of sulphamethoxazole         and trimethoprim and     -   f. contains the fatty acids 16:0, cyclo 17:0, 16:0 3-OH, 14:0,         cyclo 19:0 ω8c, 18:0.

In a particular embodiment, the strain has the identifying characteristics of a Burkholderia A396 strain (NRRL Accession No. B-50319).

Disclosed herein are isolated compounds which are optionally obtainable or derived from Burkholderia species, or alternatively, organisms capable of producing these compounds that can be used to control various pests, particularly plant phytopathogenic pests, examples of which include but are not limited to insects, nematodes, bacteria, fungi. These compounds may also be used as herbicides.

In particular, the isolated pesticidal compounds may include but are not limited to:

(A) a compound having the following properties: (i) a molecular weight of about 525-555 as determined by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS); (ii) ¹NMR δ values of 6.22, 5.81, 5.69, 5.66, 5.65, 4.64, 4.31, 3.93, 3.22, 3.21, 3.15, 3.10, 2.69, 2.62, 2.26, 2.23. 1.74, 1.15, 1.12, 1.05, 1.02; (iii) has ¹³C NMR δ values of 172.99, 172.93, 169.57, 169.23, 167.59, 130.74, 130.12, 129.93, 128.32, 73.49, 62.95, 59.42, 57.73, 38.39, 38.00, 35.49, 30.90, 30.36, 29.26, 18.59, 18.38, 18.09, 17.93, 12.51 and (iv) an High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 10-15 minutes, on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC column using a water: acetonitrile (CH₃CN) gradient;

(B) a compound having an oxazolyl-indole structure comprising at least one indole moiety, at least one oxazole moiety, at least one substituted alkyl group and at least one carboxylic ester group; at least 17 carbons and at least 3 oxygen and 2 nitrogens;

(C) a compound having an oxazolyl-benzyl structure comprising at least one benzyl moiety, at least one oxazole moiety, at least one substituted alkyl group and at least one amide group; at least 15 carbons and at least 2 oxygen and 2 nitrogens;

(D) a compound having at least one ester, at least one amide, at least three methylene groups, at least one tetrahydropyranose moiety and at least three olefinic double bonds, at least six methyl groups, at least three hydroxyl groups, at least twenty five carbons and at least eight oxygen and one nitrogen and

(E) a compound having at least one ester, at least one amide, an epoxide methylene group, at least one tetrahydropyranose moiety, at least three olefinic double bonds, at least six methyl groups, at least three hydroxyl groups, at least 25 carbons, at least 8 oxygens and at least 1 nitrogen.

In a particular embodiment, the isolated compounds may include but are not limited to:

(A) a compound having an oxazolyl-indole structure comprising at least one indole moiety, at least one oxazole moiety, at least one substituted alkyl group, at least one carboxylic ester group, at least 17 carbons, at least 3 oxygens and at least 2 nitrogens; and which has at least one of the following: (i) a molecular weight of about 275-435; (ii) ¹H NMR δ values at 8.44, 8.74, 8.19, 7.47, 7.31, 3.98, 2.82, 2.33, 1.08; (iii) ¹³C NMR δ values of 8 163.7, 161.2, 154.8, 136.1, 129.4, 125.4, 123.5, 123.3, 121.8, 121.5, 111.8, 104.7, 52.2, 37.3, 28.1, 22.7, 22.7; (iv) an High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 10-20 minutes on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) with a gradient solvent system and UV detection of 210 nm; (v) UV absorption bands at about 226, 275, 327 nm.;

(B) a compound having an oxazolyl-benzyl structure comprising at least one benzyl moiety, at least one oxazole moiety, at least one substituted alkyl group and at least one amide group; at least 15 carbons and at least 2 oxygens, at least 2 nitrogens; and at least one of the following characteristics: (i) a molecular weight of about 240-290 as determined by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS); (ii) ¹H NMR δ values at about 7.08, 7.06, 6.75, 3.75, 2.56, 2.15, 0.93, 0.93; (iii) ¹³C NMR δ values of 158.2, 156.3, 155.5, 132.6, 129.5, 129.5, 127.3, 121.8, 115.2, 115.2, 41.2, 35.3, 26.7, 21.5, 21.5; (iv) a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 6-15 minutes, on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) gradient and (v) UV absorption bands at about 230, 285, 323 nm;

(C) a non-epoxide compound comprising at least one ester, at least one amide, at least three methylene groups, at least one tetrahydropyranose moiety and at least three olefinic double bonds, at least six methyl groups, at least three hydroxyl groups, at least twenty five carbons, at least eight oxygens and one nitrogen and at least one of the following characteristics: (i) a molecular weight of about 530-580 as determined by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS); (ii) ¹H NMR δ values of 6.40, 6.39, 6.00, 5.97, 5.67, 5.54, 4.33, 3.77, 3.73, 3.70, 3.59, 3.47, 3.41, 2.44, 2.35, 2.26, 1.97, 1.81, 1.76, 1.42, 1.37, 1.16, 1.12, 1.04; (iii) ¹³C NMR δ values of 173.92, 166.06, 145.06, 138.76, 135.71, 129.99, 126.20, 123.35, 99.75, 82.20, 78.22, 76.69, 71.23, 70.79, 70.48, 69.84, 60.98, 48.84, 36.89, 33.09, 30.63, 28.55, 25.88, 20.37, 18.11, 14.90, 12.81, 9.41; (iv) a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 7-12 minutes, on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC column using a water: acetonitrile (CH₃CN) with a gradient solvent system and UV detection of 210 nm; (v) a molecular formula of C₂₈H₄₅NO₁₀ which was determined by interpretation of the ESIMS and NMR data analysis; (vi) UV absorption bands between about 210-450 nm;

(D) a compound comprising (i) at least one ester, at least one amide, an epoxide methylene group, at least one tetrahydropyranose moiety and at least three olefinic double bonds, at least six methyl groups, at least three hydroxyl groups, at least 25 carbons, at least 8 oxygens and at least 1 nitrogen, (ii) ¹³C NMR δ values of 174.03, 166.12, 143.63, 137.50, 134.39, 128.70, 126.68, 124.41, 98.09, 80.75, 76.84, 75.23, 69.87, 69.08, 68.69, 68.60, 48.83, 41.07, 35.45, 31.67, 29.19, 27.12, 24.55, 19.20, 18.95, 13.48, 11.39, 8.04, (iii) a molecular formula of C₂₈H₄₃NO₉ and at least one of: (i) ¹H NMR δ values at about 6.41, 6.40, 6.01, 5.97, 5.67, 5.55, 4.33, 3.77, 3.75, 3.72, 3.64, 3.59, 3.54, 3.52, 2.44, 2.34, 2.25, 1.96, 1.81, 1.76, 1.42, 1.38, 1.17, 1.12, 1.04; (ii) an High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 6-15 minutes, on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) gradient; (iii) UV absorption band between about 210-450 nm and most particularly at about 234 nm.

In a more particular embodiment, provided are compounds including but not limited to:

(A) a compound having the structure ##STR001##

or a pesticidally acceptable salt or steriosomers thereof, wherein M is 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; p and q are independently 1 or 2; X is O, NH or NR; R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different and independently an amino acid side-chain moiety or an amino acid side-chain derivative and R is a lower chain alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl moiety;

(B) a compound having the structure ##STR002##

wherein X, Y and Z are each independently —O, —NR₁, or —S, wherein R₁ is —H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₁, R₂ and m are each independently —H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl and “m” may be located anywhere on the oxazole ring;

(C) a compound having the structure ##STR002a##

wherein R₁ is —H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₂ is an alkyl ester;

(D) a compound having the structure ##STR003##

wherein: X and Y are each independently —OH, —NR₁, or —S, wherein R₁ is —H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₁, R₂ and m, a substituent on the oxazole ring, are each independently —H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl;

(E) a compound having the structure ##STR003a##

wherein R₁ is —H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl;

(F) a compound having the structure ##STR004a##

Wherein X, Y and Z are each independently —O, —NR, or —S, wherein R is H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, and R₁₃ are each independently H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl.

(G) a compound having the structure ##STR004b##

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, and R₁₃ are each independently H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl;

(H) a compound having the structure ##STR004c##

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₁, are each independently H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl;

(I) a compound having the structure ##STR005##

wherein X and Y are each independently —OH, —NR₁, or —S, wherein R₁, R₂ are each independently —H, alkyl (e.g., C₁-C₁₀ alkyl), substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl;

(J) a compound having the structure ##STR006a##

Wherein X, Y and Z are each independently —O, —NR, or —S, wherein R is H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₁₁, R₁₂, and R₁₃ are each independently H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl.

In a most particular embodiment, the compounds may include but are not limited to

(i) templazole A;

(ii) templazole B;

(iii) templamide A;

(iv) templamide B;

(v) FR90128;

(XL) FR901465

Also provided are methods of obtaining the compounds set forth above. In particular, the method comprises culturing the Burkholderia strain disclosed herein and producing the compound. Further provided is a method for isolating these compounds by isolating the compound(s) produced by a Burkholderia strain comprising isolating compounds produced from a supernatant of a culture of said Burkholderia strain.

Further provided is a combination comprising (a) a first substance selected from the group consisting of (i) a pure culture, whole cell broth, comprising or cell fraction, filtrate or supernatant derived from the Burkholderia strain set forth above or extract thereof for use optionally as a pesticide; (ii) one or more of the compounds set forth above (b) optionally a second substance, wherein said second substance is a chemical or biological pesticide and (c) optionally at least one of a carrier, diluent, surfactant, adjuvant, or pesticide. In a particular embodiment, the combination is a composition. In a related aspect, provided herein is a seed coated with said composition. The seed may be a genetically modified seed that is herbicide resistant.

In a related aspect, disclosed is a method for modulating pest infestation in a plant comprising applying to the plant and/or seeds thereof and/or substrate used for growing said plant and/or a method for modulating emergence and/or growth of monocotyledonous, sedge or dicotyledonous weeds comprising applying to said weed or soil an amount of

-   -   (I) (a) the isolated compounds set forth above and (b)         optionally another substance, wherein said substance is a         pesticide (e.g. nematocide, herbicide, fungicide, insecticide)         or     -   (II) the composition or combination set forth above         in an amount effective to modulate pest infestation and/or         emergence or growth of monocotyledonous, sedge or dicotyledonous         weeds.

In another related aspect, provided is the use of the strains, cultures, extracts, supernatants, combinations, compounds set forth above for modulating pest infestation in a plant comprising applying to the plant and/or seeds thereof and/or substrate used for growing said plant and/or a method for modulating emergence and/or growth of monocotyledonous, sedge or dicotyledonous weeds. The weeds may be grass weeds (e.g., Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa grus-gali, Phalaris minor and Lolium perenne), sedge weeds (e.g., Cyperus difformis) or broadleaf weeds (e.g., Brassica juncea, Trifolium repens, Conyza canadensis, Conyza bonariensis, Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus rudis, Ambrosia artemisifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Kochia scoparia, Solanum nigrum, Oxalis stricta, Chenopodium album, Medicago polymorpha, Taraxacum oficinale, Convolvulus arvensos, Pueraria lobata, Malva parviflora, Gallium aparine). Further provided are seeds coated with the combinations, cultures, extracts, strains, compounds supernatant, whole cell broth, cell fractions set forth above. The seeds may be genetically modified seeds that may be herbicide resistant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the comparison of the growth rate of Burkholderia A396 to Burkholderia multivorans ATCC 17616.

FIG. 2 shows the effect of Burkholderia A396 extract on bindweed.

FIG. 3 shows the effect of Burkholderia A396 extract on pigweed.

FIG. 4 shows the effect of Burkholderia A396 extract on Cabbage looper (Tricoplusia ni).

FIG. 5 shows the effect of Burkholderia A396 culture broth on Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua).

FIG. 6 shows the effect of Burkholderia A396 culture broth on the motility of juvenile root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita).

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of purification scheme for obtaining the templazole and templamide compounds.

FIG. 8 shows results of an in vitro assay to test the fungicidal effect of FR90128 on Botrytis cinerea (left) and Phytophtora sp. (right).

FIG. 9 shows the effect of Burkholderia A396 culture broth on the average gall index (% control) of cucumber roots cv. Toschka inoculated with 3000 eggs of Meloidogyne sp. 14 days after inoculation and application.

FIG. 10 Effect of Burkholderia A396 culture broth on the average gall index of cucumber roots cv. Toschka inoculated with 3000 eggs of Meloidogyne sp. 14 days after inoculation and application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

While the compositions and methods heretofore are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, exemplary embodiments will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. Smaller ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “and” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As defined herein, “derived from” means directly isolated or obtained from a particular source or alternatively having identifying characteristics of a substance or organism isolated or obtained from a particular source.

As defined herein, an “isolated compound” is essentially free of other compounds or substances, e.g., at least about 20% pure, preferably at least about 40% pure, more preferably about 60% pure, even more preferably about 80% pure, most preferably about 90% pure, and even most preferably about 95% pure, as determined by analytical methods, including but not limited to chromatographic methods, electrophoretic methods.

As used herein, the term “alkyl” refers to a monovalent straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group having from one to about 12 carbon atoms, including methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-hexyl, and the like.

As used herein, “substituted alkyl” refers to alkyl groups further bearing one or more substituents selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, mercapto, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, halogen, cyano, nitro, amino, amido, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carboxyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, sulfuryl, and the like.

As used herein, “alkenyl” refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl groups having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, and having in the range of about 2 up to 12 carbon atoms, and “substituted alkenyl” refers to alkenyl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth above.

As used herein, “alkynyl” refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl groups having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, and having in the range of about 2 up to 12 carbon atoms, and “substituted alkynyl” refers to alkynyl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth above.

As used herein, “aryl” refers to aromatic groups having in the range of 6 up to 14 carbon atoms and “substituted aryl” refers to aryl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth above.

As used herein, “heteroaryl” refers to aromatic rings containing one or more heteroatoms (e.g., N, O, S, or the like) as part of the ring structure, and having in the range of 3 up to 14 carbon atoms and “substituted heteroaryl” refers toheteroaryl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth above.

As used herein, “alkoxy” refers to the moiety —O-alkyl-, wherein alkyl is as defined above, and “substituted alkoxy” refers to alkoxyl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth above.

As used herein, “thioalkyl” refers to the moiety —S-alkyl-, wherein alkyl is as defined above, and “substituted thioalkyl” refers to thioalkyl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth above.

As used herein, “cycloalkyl” refers to ring-containing alkyl groups containing in the range of about 3 up to 8 carbon atoms, and “substituted cycloalkyl” refers to cycloalkyl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth above.

As used herein, “heterocyclic”, refers to cyclic (i.e., ring-containing) groups containing one or more heteroatoms (e.g., N, O, S, or the like) as part of the ring structure, and having in the range of 3 up to 14 carbon atoms and “substituted heterocyclic” refers to heterocyclic groups further bearing one or more substituent's as set forth above.

The Burkholderia Strain

The Burkholderia strain set forth herein is a non-Burkholderia cepacia complex, non-Burkholderia plantari, non-Burkholderia gladioli, Burkholderia sp and non-pathogenic to vertebrates, such as birds, mammals and fish. This strain may be isolated from a soil sample using procedures known in the art and described by Lorch et al., 1995. The Burkholderia strain may be isolated from many different types of soil or growth medium. The sample is then plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The bacteria are gram negative, and it forms round, opaque cream-colored colonies that change to pink and pinkish-brown in color and mucoid or slimy over time.

Colonies are isolated from the potato dextrose agar plates and screened for those that have biological, genetic, biochemical and/or enzymatic characteristics of the Burkholderia strain of the present invention set forth in the Examples below. In particular, the Burkholderia strain has a 16S rRNA gene comprising a forward sequence that is at least about 99.0%, preferably about 99.5%, more preferably about 99.9% and most preferably about 100% identical to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8, 11 and 12 and a forward sequence that is at least about 99.0%, preferably about 99.5%, more preferably about 99.9% and most preferably about 100% identical to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15 as determined by clustal analysis. Furthermore, as set forth below, this Burkholderia strain may, as set forth below, have pesticidal activity, particularly, virucidal, herbicidal, germicidal, fungicidal, nematicidal, bactericidal and insecticidal and more particularly, herbicidal, insecticidal, fungicidal and nematicidal activity. It is not pathogenic to vertebrate animals, such as mammals, birds, and fish.

Additionally, the Burkholderia strain produces at least the pesticidal compounds set forth in the instant disclosure.

The Burkholderia strain is susceptible to kanamycin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin, imipenem, and a combination of sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim and contains the fatty acids 16:0, cyclo 17:0, 16:0 3-OH, 14:0, cyclo 19:0, 18:0.

This Burkholderia strain may be obtained by culturing a microorganism having the identifying characteristics of Burkholderia A396 (NRRL Accession No. B-50319) on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) or in a fermentation medium containing defined carbon sources such as glucose, maltose, fructose, galactose, and undefined nitrogen sources such as peptone, tryptone, soytone, and NZ amine.

Pesticidal Compounds

The pesticidal compound disclosed herein may have the following properties: (a) is obtainable from a novel Burkholderia species, e.g., A396; (b) is, in particular, toxic to most common agricultural insect pests; (c) has a molecular weight of about 525-555 and more particularly, 540 as determined by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS); (d) has ¹H NMR values of 6.22, 5.81, 5.69, 5.66, 5.65, 4.64, 4.31, 3.93, 3.22, 3.21, 3.15, 3.10, 2.69, 2.62, 2.26, 2.23. 1.74, 1.15, 1.12, 1.05, 1.02; (d) has ¹³C NMR values of 172.99, 172.93, 169.57, 169.23, 167.59, 130.74, 130.12, 129.93, 128.32, 73.49, 62.95, 59.42, 57.73, 38.39, 38.00, 35.49, 30.90, 30.36, 29.26, 18.59, 18.38, 18.09, 17.93, 12.51 (e) has an High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 10-15 minutes, more specifically about 12 minutes and even more specifically about 12.14 min on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC (Phenomenex, Luna 5μ C18 (2) 100 A, 100×4.60 mm) column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) with a gradient solvent system (0-20 min 90-0% aqueous CH₃CN, 20-24 min 100% CH₃CN, 24-27 min, 0-90% aqueous CH₃CN, 27-30 min 90% aqueous CH₃CN) at 0.5 mL/min flow rate and UV detection of 210 nm (f) has a molecular formula, C₂₄H₃₅N₄O₆S₂, which is determined by interpretation of ¹H, ¹³C NMR and LC/MS data (g) a ¹³C NMR spectrum with signals for all 24 carbons, including 5 methyl, 4 methylene, 9 methine, and 6 quaternary carbons and (g) ¹H NMR spectrum displaying characteristics of a typical depsipeptide, illustrating three -amino protons [4.63, 4.31, 3.93], and one ester carbinol proton [5.69]. In a particular embodiment, the compound has the structure ##STR001##:

Or a pesticidally acceptable salt or stereoisomers thereof, wherein M is 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; p and q are independently 1 or 2; X is O, NH or NR; R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different and independently an amino acid side-chain moiety or an amino acid side-chain derivative and R is a lower chain alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl moiety.

In an even more particular embodiment, the compound has the structure of FR90128:

Provided herewith are compounds set forth in ##STR002##:

wherein: X, Y and Z are each independently —O, —NR₁, or —S, wherein R₁ is —H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₁, R₂ and m are each independently —H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl.

In an even another particular embodiment, Family ##STR002## compounds may be the compounds set forth in (vi)-(xix).

These are from either natural materials or compounds obtained from commercial sources or by chemical synthesis. Natural sources of Family ##STR002## compounds include, but are not limited to, microorganisms, alga, and sponges. In a more particular embodiment, microorganisms which include the Family ##STR002## compounds include but are not limited to, or alternatively, Family ##STR002## compounds may be derived from species such as Streptoverticillium waksmanii (compound vi) (Umehara, et al., 1984), Streptomyces pimprina (compound vii) (Naiket al., 2001), Streptoverticillium olivoreticuli (compounds viii, ix, x) (Koyama Y., et al., 1981), Streptomyces sp (compounds xi, xii) (Watabe et al., 1988), Pseudomonas syringae (compounds xiii, xiv) (Pettit et al., 2002). Family ##STR002## compounds may also be derived from algae including but not limited to red alga (compound xv) (N'Diaye, et al., 1996), red alga Martensia fragilis (compound xvi) (Takahashi S. et al., 1998), Diazona chinensis (compounds xvii & xviii) (Lindquist N. et al., 1991), Rhodophycota haraldiophyllum sp (compound xix) (Guella et al., 1994).

Also provided is ##STR003##:

wherein: X and Y are each independently —OH, —NR₁, or —S, wherein R₁ is —H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₁, R₂ and m, a substituent on the oxazole ring, are each independently —H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl.

Further provided is ##STR005##:

wherein X and Y are each independently —OH, —NR₁, or —S, wherein R₁, R₂ are each independently —H, alkyl (e.g., C1-C₁₀ alkyl), substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl.

In a particular embodiment, Family ##STR005## compounds such as compounds from xx-xxiii set forth below may be derived from natural or commercial sources or by chemical synthesis:

Natural sources of Family ##STR005## compounds include, but are not limited to plants, corals, microorganisms, and sponges. The microorganisms include, but are not limited to Streptomyces griseus (compound xx) (Hirota et al., 1978), Streptomyces albus (compound xxi) (Werner et al., 1980). Family STR004 compounds may also be derived from algae including but not limited to Haraldiophyllum sp (compound xxii (Guella et al., 2006), and red algae (compound xxiii) (N'Diaye et al., 1994).

In one embodiment, the compound may be derived from or is obtainable from a microorganism, and in particular from Burkholderia species and characterized as having a structure comprising at least one ester, at least one amide, at least three methylene groups, at least one tetrahydropyranose moiety and at least three olefinic double bonds, at least six methyl groups, at least three hydroxyl groups, at least twenty five carbons and at least eight oxygen and one nitrogen. The compound further comprises at least one of the following characteristics:

(a) pesticidal properties and in particular, nematicidal, fungicidal, insecticidal and herbicidal properties;

(b) a molecular weight of about 530-580 and more particularly, 555 as determined by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS);

(c) ¹H NMR values of δ 6.40, 6.39, 6.00, 5.97, 5.67, 5.54, 4.33, 3.77, 3.73, 3.70, 3.59, 3.47, 3.41, 2.44, 2.35, 2.26, 1.97, 1.81, 1.76, 1.42, 1.37, 1.16, 1.12, 1.04;

(d) ¹³C NMR values of 8 173.92, 166.06, 145.06, 138.76, 135.71, 129.99, 126.20, 123.35, 99.75, 82.20, 78.22, 76.69, 71.23, 70.79, 70.48, 69.84, 60.98, 48.84, 36.89, 33.09, 30.63, 28.55, 25.88, 20.37, 18.11, 14.90, 12.81, 9.41;

(e) an High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 7-12 minutes, more specifically about 10 minutes and even more specifically about 10.98 min on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC (Phenomenex, Luna 5μ C18(2) 100 A, 100×4.60 mm) column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) with a gradient solvent system (0-20 min; 90-0% aqueous CH₃CN, 20-24 min; 100% CH₃CN, 24-27 min; 0-90% aqueous CH₃CN, 27-30 min; 90% aqueous CH₃CN) at 0.5 mL/min flow rate and UV detection of 210 nm;

(f) ¹³C NMR spectrum which exhibits 28 discrete carbon signals which may be attributed to six methyls, four methylene carbons, and thirteen methines including five sp², four quaternary carbons;

(g) a molecular formula of C₂₈H₄₅NO₁₀ which was determined by interpretation of the ESIMS and NMR data analysis;

(h) UV absorption bands between about 210-450 nm and most particularly at about 234 nm.

Also provided are compounds having the structure ##STR004a##:

Wherein X, Y and Z are each independently —O, —NR, or —S, wherein R is H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, and R₁₃ are each independently H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl.

In a particular embodiment, the compound has the structure set forth in ##STR004b##:

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, and R₁₃ are as previously defined for ##STR004a##.

In a more particular embodiment, the compound is Templamide A with the following structure:

In another embodiment, provided is a compound having formula ##STR004c##:

Wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, and R₁₁ are as previously defined for ##STR004a##.

In another embodiment, provided is a compound which may be derived from Burkholderia species and characterized as having a structure comprising at least one ester, at least one amide, an epoxide methylene group, at least one tetrahydropyranose moiety and at least three olefinic double bonds, at least six methyl groups, at least three hydroxyl groups, at least 25 carbons and at least 8 oxygen and 1 nitrogen, and pesticide activity. The compound further comprises at least one of the following characteristics:

(a) pesticidal properties and in particular, insecticidal, fungicidal, nematocidal and herbicidal properties; (b) a molecular weight of about 520-560 and particularly 537 as determined by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS);

(c) ¹H NMR δ values at about 6.41, 6.40, 6.01, 5.97, 5.67, 5.55, 4.33, 3.77, 3.75, 3.72, 3.64, 3.59, 3.54, 3.52, 2.44, 2.34, 2.25, 1.96, 1.81, 1.76, 1.42, 1.38, 1.17, 1.12, 1.04;

(d) ¹³C NMR values of δ 174.03, 166.12, 143.63, 137.50, 134.39, 128.70, 126.68, 124.41, 98.09, 80.75, 76.84, 75.23, 69.87, 69.08, 68.69, 68.60, 48.83, 41.07, 35.45, 31.67, 29.19, 27.12, 24.55, 19.20, 18.95, 13.48, 11.39, 8.04;

(e) High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 6-15 minutes, more specifically about 8 minutes on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) gradient, particularly, an High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 8-15 minutes, more specifically about 11 minutes and even more specifically about 11.73 min on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC (Phenomenex, Luna 5μ C18(2) 100 A, 100×4.60 mm) column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) with a gradient solvent system (0-20 min; 90-0% aqueous CH₃CN, 20-24 min; 100% CH₃CN, 24-27 min; 0-90% aqueous CH₃CN, 27-30 min; 90% aqueous CH₃CN) at 0.5 mL/min flow rate and UV detection of 210 nm;

(f) a molecular formula of C₂₈H₄₃NO₉ which was determined by interpretation of the ESIMS and NMR data analysis;

(g) UV absorption bands at about 210-450 nm and most particularly at about 234 nm.

In a particular embodiment, the compound has the structure ##STR006a##:

Wherein X, Y and Z are each independently —O, —NR, or —S, wherein R is H or C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₁₁, R₁₂, and R₁₃ are each independently H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocyclic, substituted heterocyclic, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, thioalkyl, substituted thioalkyl, hydroxy, halogen, amino, amido, carboxyl, —C(O)H, acyl, oxyacyl, carbamate, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, or sulfuryl.

In a particular embodiment the compound has the structure:

In another embodiment, provided is a compound having formula ##STR006b##:

Wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, and R₁₁ are as previously defined for ##STR006a##.

In a more particular embodiment, the compound is Templamide B with the following structure:

In yet another particular embodiment, the compound may be derived from Burkholderia species and characterized as having a structure comprising at least one ester, at least one amide, an epoxide methylene group, at least one tetrahydropyranose moiety and at least three olefinic double bonds, at least six methyl groups, at least three hydroxyl groups, at least 25 carbons and at least 8 oxygens and at least 1 nitrogen. The compound further comprises at least one of the following characteristics:

(a) pesticidal properties and in particular, insecticidal, fungicidal, nematicidal and herbicidal properties;

(b) a molecular weight of about 510-550 and particularly about 523 as determined by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS); (c) ¹H NMR δ values at about 6.41, 6.40, 6.01, 5.98, 5.68, 5.56, 4.33, 3.77, 3.75, 3.72, 3.65, 3.59, 3.55, 3.50, 2.44, 2.26, 2.04, 1.96, 1.81, 1.75, 1.37, 1.17, 1.04;

(d) ¹³C NMR δ values of 172.22, 167.55, 144.98, 138.94, 135.84, 130.14, 125.85, 123.37, 99.54, 82.19, 78.28, 76.69, 71.31, 70.13, 69.68, 48.83, 42.52, 36.89, 33.11, 30.63, 25.99, 21.20, 20.38, 18.14, 14.93, 12.84;

(e) an High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 6-15 minutes, more specifically about 8 minutes on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) gradient, particularly, an High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) retention time of about 8-15 minutes, more specifically about 10 minutes and even more specifically about 10.98 min on a reversed phase C-18 HPLC (Phenomenex, Luna 5μ C18(2) 100 A, 100×4.60 mm) column using a water:acetonitrile (CH₃CN) with a gradient solvent system (0-20 min; 90-0% aqueous CH₃CN, 20-24 min; 100% CH₃CN, 24-27 min; 0-90% aqueous CH₃CN, 27-30 min; 90% aqueous CH₃CN) at 0.5 mL/min flow rate and UV detection of 210 nm;

(f) a molecular formula of C₂₇H₄₁NO₉ which was determined by interpretation of the ESIMS and NMR data analysis;

(g) UV absorption bands at about 210-450 nm and most particularly at about 234 nm.

In a more particular embodiment, the compound is a known compound FR901465 which was isolated earlier from culture broth of a bacterium of Pseudomonas sp. No. 2663 (Nakajima et al. 1996) and had been reported to have anticancer activity with the following structure:

In an even another particular embodiment, Family ##STR006a## compounds may be the compounds set forth in xxiv to xxxix. These are from either natural materials or compounds obtained from commercial sources or by chemical synthesis. Natural sources of Family ##STR006a## compounds include, but are not limited to, microorganisms, alga, and sponges. In a more particular embodiment, microorganisms which include the Family ##STR006a## compounds which may be derived from species such as Pseudomonas sp. No. 2663 (compounds xxiv-xxvi) (Nakajima et al., 1996). The synthetic analogues of the FR901464 (xxvii-xxxix) which have been synthesized and patented as anticancer compounds (see Koide et al., US Patent Application No. 2008/0096879 A1).

Compositions

A substantially pure culture, cell fraction or supernatant and compounds produced by the Burkholderia strain of the present invention, may be formulated into pesticidal compositions.

The substances set forth above can be formulated in any manner. Non-limiting formulation examples include but are not limited to emulsifiable concentrates (EC), wettable powders (WP), soluble liquids (SL), aerosols, ultra-low volume concentrate solutions (ULV), soluble powders (SP), microencapsulation, water dispersed granules, flowables (FL), microemulsions (ME), nano-emulsions (NE), etc. In particular, the concentrate, powders, granules and emulsions may be freeze-dried. In any formulation described herein, percent of the active ingredient is within a range of 0.01% to 99.99%.

The compositions may be in the form of a liquid, gel or solid. Liquid compositions comprise pesticidal compounds derived from said Burkholderia strain, e.g. a strain having the identifying characteristics of Burkholderia A396 (NRRL Accession No. B-50319).

A solid composition can be prepared by suspending a solid carrier in a solution of pesticidal compounds and drying the suspension under mild conditions, such as evaporation at room temperature or vacuum evaporation at 65° C. or lower.

A composition of the invention may comprise gel-encapsulated compounds derived from the Burkholderia strain of the present invention. Such gel-encapsulated materials can be prepared by mixing a gel-forming agent (e.g., gelatin, cellulose, or lignin) with a solution of pesticidal compounds used in the method of the invention; and inducing gel formation of the agent.

The composition may additionally comprise a surfactant to be used for the purpose of emulsification, dispersion, wetting, spreading, integration, disintegration control, stabilization of active ingredients, and improvement of fluidity or rust inhibition. In a particular embodiment, the surfactant is a non-phytotoxic non-ionic surfactant which preferably belongs to EPA List 4B. In another particular embodiment, the nonionic surfactant is polyoxyethylene (20) monolaurate. The concentration of surfactants may range between 0.1-35% of the total formulation, preferred range is 5-25%. The choice of dispersing and emulsifying agents, such as non-ionic, anionic, amphoteric and cationic dispersing and emulsifying agents, and the amount employed is determined by the nature of the composition and the ability of the agent to facilitate the dispersion of these compositions.

The composition may further comprise another microorganism and/or pesticide (e.g, nematocide, fungicide, insecticide). The microorganism may include but is not limited to an agent derived from Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Brevabacillus sp Lecanicillium sp., non-Ampelomyces sp., Pseudozyma sp., Streptomyces sp, Burkholderia sp, Trichoderma sp, Gliocladium sp. Alternatively, the agent may be a natural oil or oil-product having fungicidal and/or insecticidal activity (e.g., paraffinic oil, tea tree oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil, cinnamon oil, citrus oil, rosemary oil).

The composition, in particular, may further comprise an insecticide. The insecticide may include but is not limited to avermectin, Bacillus thuringiensis, neem oil and azadiractin, spinosads, Chromobacterium subtsugae, eucalyptus extract, entomopathogenic bacterium or fungi such a Beauveria bassiana, and Metarrhizium anisopliae and chemical insecticides including but not limited to organochlorine compounds, organophosphorous compounds, carbamates, pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids.

The composition my further comprise a nematicide. The nematicide may include, but is not limited to chemical nematicides such as fenamiphos, aldicarb, oxamyl, carbofuran, natural product neamticide, avermectin, the fungi Paecilomyces lilacinas and Muscodor spp., the bacteria Bacillus firmus and other Bacillus spp. and Pasteuria penetrans.

The composition may further comprise a biofungicide such as extract of R. sachalinensis (Regalia) or a fungicide. Such fungicides include, but are not limited to, a single site anti-fungal agent which may include but is not limited to benzimidazole, a demethylation inhibitor (DMI) (e.g., imidazole, piperazine, pyrimidine, triazole), morpholine, hydroxypyrimidine, anilinopyrimidine, phosphorothiolate, quinone outside inhibitor, quinoline, dicarboximide, carboximide, phenylamide, anilinopyrimidine, phenylpyrrole, aromatic hydrocarbon, cinnamic acid, hydroxyanilide, antibiotic, polyoxin, acylamine, phthalimide, benzenoid (xylylalanine). In yet a further embodiment, the antifungal agent is a demethylation inhibitor selected from the group consisting of imidazole (e.g., triflumizole), piperazine, pyrimidine and triazole (e.g., bitertanol, myclobutanil, penconazole, propiconazole, triadimefon, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diniconazole, fenbuconazole, hexaconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, propiconazole).

The antimicrobial agent may also be a multi-site non-inorganic, chemical fungicide selected from the group consisting of a nitrile (e.g., chloronitrile or fludioxonil), quinoxaline, sulphamide, phosphonate, phosphite, dithiocarbamate, chloralkythios, phenylpyridin-amine, cyano-acetamide oxime.

The compositions may be applied using methods known in the art. Specifically, these compositions may be applied to plants or plant parts. Plants are to be understood as meaning in the present context all plants and plant populations such as desired and undesired wild plants or crop plants (including naturally occurring crop plants). Crop plants can be plants which can be obtained by conventional plant breeding and optimization methods or by biotechnological and genetic engineering methods or by combinations of these methods, including the transgenic plants and including the plant cultivars protectable or not protectable by plant breeders' rights. Plant parts are to be understood as meaning all parts and organs of plants above and below the ground, such as shoot, leaf, flower and root, examples which may be mentioned being leaves, needles, stalks, stems, flowers, fruit bodies, fruits, seeds, roots, tubers and rhizomes. The plant parts also include harvested material, and vegetative and generative propagation material, for example cuttings, tubers, rhizomes, offshoots and seeds.

Treatment of the plants and plant parts with the compositions set forth above may be carried out directly or by allowing the compositions to act on their surroundings, habitat or storage space by, for example, immersion, spraying, evaporation, fogging, scattering, painting on, injecting. In the case that the composition is applied to a seed, the composition may be applied to the seed as one or more coats prior to planting the seed using one or more coats using methods known in the art.

As noted above, the compositions may be herbicidal compositions. The composition may further comprise one or more herbicides. These may include, but are not limited to, a bioherbicide and/or a chemical herbicide. The bioherbicide may be selected from the group consisting of clove, cinnamon, lemongrass, citrus oils, orange peel oil, tentoxin, cornexistin, AAL-toxin, leptospermone, thaxtomin, sarmentine, momilactone B, sorgoleone, ascaulatoxin and ascaulatoxin aglycone. The chemical herbicide may include, but is not limited to, diflufenzopyr and salts thereof, dicamba and salts thereof, topramezone, tembotrione, S-metolachlor, atrazine, mesotrione, primisulfuron-methyl, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, nicosulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, asulam, metribuzin, diclofop-methyl, fluazifop, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, asulam, oxyfluorfen, rimsulfuron, mecoprop, and quinclorac, thiobencarb, clomazone, cyhalofop, propanil, bensulfuron-methyl, penoxsulam, triclopyr, imazethapyr, halosulfuron-methyl, pendimethalin, bispyribac-sodium, carfentrazone ethyl, sodium bentazon/sodium acifluorfen, glyphosate, glufosinate and orthosulfamuron.

Herbicidal compositions may be applied in liquid or solid form as pre-emergence or post-emergence formulations.

For pre-emergence dry formulations, the granule size of the carrier is typically 1-2 mm (diameter) but the granules can be either smaller or larger depending on the required ground coverage. Granules may comprise porous or non-porous particles.

For post-emergence formulations, the formulation components used may contain smectite clays, attapulgite clays and similar swelling clays, thickeners such as xanthan gums, gum Arabic and other polysaccharide thickeners as well as dispersion stabilizers such as nonionic surfactants (for example polyoxyethylene (20) monolaurate).

Uses

The compositions and pesticidal compounds derived from the Burkholderia strain set forth herein may be used as pesticides, particularly as insecticides, nematocides, fungicides and herbicides.

Specifically, nematodes that may be controlled using the method set forth above include but are not limited to parasitic nematodes such as root-knot, ring, sting, lance, cyst, and lesion nematodes, including but not limited to Meloidogyne, Heterodera and Globodera spp; particularly Meloidogyne incognita (root knot nematodes), as well as Globodera rostochiensis and globodera pailida (potato cyst nematodes); Heterodera glycines (soybean cyst nematode); Heterodera schachtii (beet cyst nematode); and Heterodera avenae (cereal cyst nematode).

Phytopathogenic insects controlled by the method of the present invention include but are not limited to insects from the order (a) Lepidoptera, for example, Acleris spp., Adoxophyes spp., Aegeria spp., Agrotis spp., Alabama argillaceae, Amylois spp., Anticarsia gemmatalis, Archips spp., Argyrotaenia spp., Autographa spp., Busseola fusca, Cadra cautella, Carposina nipponensis, Chilo spp., Choristoneura spp., Clysia ambiguella, Cnaphalocrocis spp., Cnephasia spp., Cochylis spp., Coleophora spp Crocidolomia binotalis, Cryptophlebia leucotreta, Cydia spp., Diatraea spp., Diparopsis castanea, Earias spp., Ephestia spp., Eucosma spp., Eupoecilia ambiguella, Euproctis spp., Euxoa spp., Grapholita spp., Hedya nubiferana, Heliothis spp., Hellula undalis, Hyphantria cunea, Keiferia lycopersicella, Leucoptera scitella, Lithocollethis spp., Lobesia botrana, Lymantria spp., Lyonetia spp., Malacosoma spp., Mamestra brassicae, Manduca sexta, Operophtera spp., Ostrinia nubilalis, Pammene spp., Pandemis spp., Panolis flammea, Pectinophora gossypiella, Phthorimaea operculella, Pieris rapae, Pieris spp., Plutella xylostella, Prays spp., Scirpophaga spp., Sesamia spp., Sparganothis spp., Spodoptera spp., Synanthedon spp., Thaumetopoea spp., Tortrix spp., Trichoplusia ni and Yponomeuta spp.;

(b) Coleoptera, for example, Agriotes spp., Anthonomus spp., Atomaria linearis, Chaetocnema tibialis, Cosmopolites spp., Curculio spp., Dermestes spp., Diabrotica spp., Epilachna spp., Eremnus spp., Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Lissorhoptrus spp., Melolontha spp., Orycaephilus spp., Otiorhynchus spp., Phlyctinus spp., Popillia spp., Psylliodes spp., Rhizopertha spp-, Scarabeidae, Sitophilus spp., Sitotroga spp., Tenebrio spp., Tribolium spp. and Trogoderma spp.; (c) Orthoptera, for example, Blatta spp., Blattella spp., Gryllotalpa spp., Leucophaea maderae, Locusta spp., Periplaneta spp. and Schistocerca spp.; (d) Isoptera, for example, Reticulitermes spp.; (e) Psocoptera, for example, Liposcelis spp.; (f) Anoplura, for example, Haematopinus spp., Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Pemphigus spp. and Phylloxera spp.; (g) Mallophaga, for example, Damalinea spp. and Trichodectes spp.; (h) Thysanoptera, for example, Frankliniella spp., Hercinotnrips spp., Taeniothrips spp., Thrips palmi, Thrips tabaci and Scirtothrips aurantii; (i) Heteroptera, for example, Cimex spp., Distantiella theobroma, Dysdercus spp., Euchistus spp., Eurygaster spp., Leptocorisa spp., Nezara spp., Piesma spp., Rhodnius spp., Sahlbergella singularis, Scotinophara spp. and Tniatoma spp.; (j) Homoptera, for example, Aleurothrixus floccosus, Aleyrodes brassicae, Aonidiella spp., Aphididae, Aphis spp., Aspidiotus spp., Bemisia tabaci, Ceroplaster spp., Chrysomphalus aonidium, Chrysomphalus dictyospermi, Coccus hesperidum, Empoasca spp., Eriosoma larigerum, Erythroneura spp., Gascardia spp., Laodelphax spp., Lecanium corni, Lepidosaphes spp., Macrosiphus spp., Myzus spp., Nephotettix spp., Nilaparvata spp., Paratoria spp., Pemphigus spp., Planococcus spp., Pseudaulacaspis spp., Pseudococcus spp., Psylla spp., Pulvinaria aethiopica, Quadraspidiotus spp., Rhopalosiphum spp., Saissetia spp., Scaphoideus spp., Schizaphis spp., Sitobion spp., Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Trioza erytreae and Unaspis citri; (k) Hymenoptera, for example, Acromyrmex, Atta spp., Cephus spp., Diprion spp., Diprionidae, Gilpinia polytoma, Hoplocampa spp., Lasius spp., Monomorium pharaonis, Neodiprion spp., Solenopsis spp. and Vespa spp.; (I) Diptera, for example, Aedes spp., Antherigona soccata, Bibio hortulanus, Calliphora erythrocephala, Ceratitis spp., Chrysomyia spp., Culex spp., Cuterebra spp., Dacus spp., Drosophila melanogaster, Fannia spp., Gastrophilus spp., Glossina spp., Hypoderma spp., Hyppobosca spp., Liriomyza spp., Lucilia spp., Melanagromyza spp., Musca spp., Oestrus spp., Orseolia spp., Oscinella frit, Pegomyia hyoscyami, Phorbia spp., Rhagoletis pomonella, Sciara spp., Stomoxys spp., Tabanus spp., Tannia spp. and Tipula spp.; (m) Siphonaptera, for example, Ceratophyllus spp. and Xenopsylla cheopis and (n) from the order Thysanura, for example, Lepisma saccharina. The active ingredients according to the invention may further be used for controlling crucifer flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.), root maggots (Delia spp.), cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus spp.) and aphids in oil seed crops such as canola (rape), mustard seed, and hybrids thereof, and also rice and maize.

In a particular embodiment, the insect may be a member of the Spodoptera, more particularly, Spodoptera exigua, Myzus persicae, Plutella xylostella or Euschistus sp.

The substances and compositions may also be used to modulate emergence in either a pre-emergent or post-emergent formulation of monocotyledonous, sedge or dicotyledonous weeds. In a particular embodiment, the weeds may be

Chenopodium sp. (e.g., Chenopodium album, Chenopodium murale), Abutilon sp. (e.g., Abutilon theophrasti), Helianthus sp. (e.g., Helianthus annuus), Ambrosia sp. (e.g., Ambrosia artemesifolia, Ambrosia trifida), Amaranthus sp. (e.g., Amaranthus retroflexus, Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus rudis, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus tuberculatus), Convolvulus sp. (e.g., Convolvulus arvensis), Brassica sp. (e.g., Brassica kaber), Taraxacum sp. (e.g., Taraxacum officinale), Solanum sp. (e.g., Solanum nigrum, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Solanum physalifolium, Solanum ptycanthum), Malva sp. (e.g., Malva neglecta, Malva parviflora), Setaria sp. (e.g., Setaria lutescens), Bromus sp. (e.g., Bromus tectorum, Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus), Poa sp. (e.g., Poa annua, Poa pratensis), Lolium sp. (e.g., Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Lolium multiflorum L. var. Pace), Festuca sp. (e.g., Festuca arundinaceae, Festuca rubra), Echinochloa sp. (e.g., Echinochloa crus-galli, Echinochloa colona), Oxalis sp. (e.g., Oxalis stricta, Oxalis pes-caprae, Oxalis corniculata); Cyperus sp. (e.g., Cyperus difformis, Cyperus esculentum, Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus brevifolius); Conyza sp. (e.g., Conyza canadensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Conyza bonariensis); Sagina sp. (e.g., Sagina procumbens); Pueraria lobata, Veronica sp. (e.g., Veronica hederafolia), Stellaria sp. (e.g., Stellaria media), Rorippa sp. (e.g., Rorippa islandica), Senecio sp. (e.g., Senecio vulgaris), Lamium sp. (e.g., Lamium amplexicaule), Digitaria sp. (e.g., Digitaria sanguinalis, Digitaria ischaemum), Trifolium sp. (e.g., Trifolium repens, Trifolium hirtum, Trifolium incarnatum, Trifolium pratense), Alhagi maurorum, Astragalus spp., Medicago sp. (e.g. Medicago lupulina, Medicago polymorpha), Melilotus sp., Sesbania sp. (e.g. Sesbania punicea, Sesbania exaltata), Vicia sp. (e.g. Vicia sativa, Vicia villosa), Gallium sp. (e.g., Gallium aparine), Galinsoga sp. (e.g., Galinsoga aristatula), Cardamine sp. (e.g., Cardamine flexuosa, Cardamine hirsuta), Kochia sp. (e.g., Kochia scoparia), Eleusine sp. (e.g., Eleusine indica), Portulaca sp. (e.g., Portulaca oleraceae), Plantago sp. (e.g., Plantago lanceolata), Euphorbia sp. (e.g., Euphornia supina, Euphorbia maculate, Euphorbia esula, Euphorbia prostrata), Erodium sp. (e.g., Erodium cicutarium), Sonchus sp., (e.g., Sonchus oleraceus), Lactuca sp. (e.g., Lactuca serriola), Capsella sp. (e.g., Capsella bursa-pastoris), Leptochloa sp. (e.g., Leptochloa fascicularis, Leptochloa virgata), Raphanus sp. (e.g., Raphanus raphanistrum), Calandrinia sp. (e.g., Calandrinia ciliata), Paspalum sp. (e.g., Paspalum dilatatum), Gnaphalium sp., Cynodon sp. (e.g., Cynodon dactylon, Cynodon hirsutus), Polygonum sp. (e.g., Polygonum arenastrum, Polygonum lapathifolium,), Avena fatua, Hordeum sp. (e.g., Hordeum leporinum), Urtica sp. (e.g., Urtica urens), Tribulus terrestris, Sisymbrium sp. (e.g., Sisymbrium irio), Cenchrus sp., Salsola sp. (e.g., Salsola tragus, Salsola kali), Amsinckia sp. (e.g., Amsinckia lycopsoides), Ipomoea sp., Claytonia perfoliata, Polypogon sp. (e.g., Polypogon monspeliensis), Xanthium sp., Hypochaeris radicata, Physalis sp., Eragrostis sp., Verbascum sp., Chamomilla suaveolens, Centaurea sp. (e.g., Centaurea solstitialis), Epilobium brachycarpum, Panicum sp. (e.g., Panicum capilare, Panicum dichotomiflorum), Rumex acetosella, Eclipta sp. (e.g., Eclipta alba, Eclipta prostrata), Ludwigia sp., Urochloa sp. (e.g. Urochloa platyphylla, Urochloa panicoides), Leersia sp., Sesbania sp. (Sesbania herbacea), Rotala sp., Ammania sp., Alternathera philoxeroides, Commelina sp., Sorghum halepense, Parthenium hysterophorus, Chloris truncata, and species in the Fabaceae family.

The Burkholderia strain, compounds and compositions set forth above may also be used as a fungicide. The targeted fungus may be a Fusarium sp., Botrytis sp., Monilinia sp., Colletotrichum sp, Verticillium sp.; Microphomina sp., Phytophtora sp, Mucor sp., Podosphaera sp. Rhizoctonia sp., Peronospora sp., Geotrichum sp., Phoma, and Penicillium. In another most particular embodiment, the bacteria are Xanthomonas.

The invention will now be described in greater detail by reference to the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES

The compositions and methods set forth above will be further illustrated in the following, non-limiting Examples. The examples are illustrative of various embodiments only and do not limit the claimed invention regarding the materials, conditions, weight ratios, process parameters and the like recited herein.

1. Example 1 Isolation and Identification of the Microbe 1.1 Isolation of the Microorganism

The microbe is isolated using established techniques know to the art from a soil sample collected under an evergreen tree at the Rinnoji Temple, Nikko, Japan. The isolation is done using potato dextrose agar (PDA) using a procedure described in detail by Lorch et al. , 1995. In this procedure, the soil sample is first diluted in sterile water, after which it is plated in a solid agar medium such as potato dextrose agar (PDA). The plates are grown at 25° C. for five days, after which individual microbial colonies are isolated into separate PDA plates. The isolated bacterium is gram negative, and it forms round, opaque cream-colored colonies that change to pink and pinkish-brown in color and mucoid or slimy over time.

1.2. Identification on the Microorganism

The microbe is identified based on gene sequencing using universal bacterial primers to amplify the 16S rRNA region. The following protocol is used: Burkholderia sp A396 is cultured on potato-dextrose agar plates. Growth from a 24 hour-old plate is scraped with a sterile loop and re-suspended in DNA extraction buffer. DNA is extracted using the MoBio Ultra Clean Microbial DNA extraction kit. DNA extract is checked for quality/quantity by running 5 μl on a 1% agarose gel.

PCR reactions are set up as follows: 2 μl DNA extract, 5 μl PCR buffer, 1 μl dNTPs (10 mM each), 1.25 μl forward primer (27F; 5′-AGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:1), 1.25 μl reverse primer (907R; 5′-CCGTCAATTCCTTTGAGTTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2)) and 0.25 μl Taq enzyme. The reaction volume is made up to 50 μl using sterile nuclease-free water. The PCR reaction includes an initial denaturation step at 95° C. for 10 minutes, followed by 30 cycles of 94° C./30 sec, 57° C./20 sec, 72° C./30 sec, and a final extension step at 72° C. for 10 minutes.

The product's approximate concentration and size is calculated by running a 5 μl volume on a 1% agarose gel and comparing the product band to a mass ladder.

Excess primers, dNTPs and enzyme are removed from the PCR product with the MoBio PCR clean up kit. The cleaned PCR product as directly sequenced using primers 27F (same as above), 530F (5′-GTGCCAGCCGCCGCGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:3)), 1114F (5′-GCAACGAGCGCAACCC (SEQ ID NO:4)) and 1525R (5′-AAGGAGGTGWTCCARCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:5)), 1100R (5′-GGGTTGCGCTCGTTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:6)), 519R (5′-GWATTACCGCGGCKGCTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:7).

The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain A396 is compared with the available 16s rRNA gene sequences of representatives of the β-proteobacteria using BLAST. Strain A395 A396 is closely related to members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex, with 99% or higher similarity to several isolates of Burkholderia multivorans, Burkholderia vietnamensis, and Burkholderia cepacia. A BLAST search excluding the B. cepacia complex, showed 98% similarity to B. plantarii, B. gladioli and Burkholderia sp. isolates.

A distance tree of results using the neighbor joining method, showed that A396 is related to Burkholderia multivorans and other Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates. Burkholderia plantarii and Burkholderia glumae grouped in a separate branch of the tree.

The isolated Burkholderia strain was found to contain the following sequences: forward sequence, DNA sequence with 27F primer, 815 nucleotides (SEQ ID NO:8); reverse sequence, 1453 bp, using primers 1525R, 1100R, 519R (SEQ ID NO:9); reverse sequence 824 bp using primer 907R (SEQ NO: 10); forward sequence 1152 bp using primer 530F (SEQ ID NO:11); forward sequence 1067 bp using 1114F primer (SEQ ID NO:12); reverse sequence 1223 bp using 1525R primer (SEQ NO:13); reverse sequence 1216 bp using 1100R primer (SEQ ID NO: 14); reverse sequence 1194 bp using 519R primer (SEQ ID NO: 15).

1.3. Proof that Burkholderia A396 Does Not Belong to Burkholderia Cepacia Complex 1.3.1 Molecular Biology Work Using Specific PCR Primers

In order to confirm the identification of Burkholderia A396 as Burkholderia multivorans, additional sequencing of housekeeping genes is performed. Burkholderia multivorans is a known member of the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Efforts are focused on PCR of recA genes, as described by Mahenthiralingam et al., 2000. The following primers are used: (a) BCR1 and BCR2 set forth in Mahenthiralingam et al., 2000 to confirm B. cepacia complex match and (b) BCRBM1 and BCRBM2 set forth Mahenthiralingam et al, 2000 to confirm B. multivorans match. A product-yielding PCR reaction for the first primer set would confirm that the microbe belongs to the B. cepacia complex. A product-yielding PCR reaction for the second primer set would confirm that the microbe is indeed B. multivorans.

No PCR product is obtained for either pair of primers. The performance of the PCR reaction and primers is tested using Burkholderia multivorans ATCC 17616 (positive control) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (negative control). Strong bands are observed both for B. multivorans using both sets of primers. No bands are observed for Pseudomonas fluorescens. The results indicate that A396 is a Burkholderia, but not a member of the B. cepacia complex, and not Burkholderia multivorans. This is also demonstrated in a comparative culture experiment in which both A396 and a type culture of B. multivorans are grown side-by-side in a shake culture, and the growth is monitored daily using optical density measurements at 600 nm. Under the set conditions, the novel species A396 grew much faster than the B. multivorans type strain (FIG. 1).

1.3.2 DNA-DNA Hybridization

In order to confirm that isolate A396 is a new species of Burkholderia, a DNA-DNA hybridization experiment with Burkholderia multivorans (the closest 16S rRNA sequence match) is conducted. Biomass for both A396 and B. multivorans is produced in ISP2 broth, grown over 48 hours at 200 rpm/25° C. in Fernbach flasks. The biomass is aseptically harvested by centrifugation. The broth is decanted and the cell pellet is resuspended in a 1:1 solution of water:isopropanol. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments are performed by the DSMZ, the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures in Germany. DNA is isolated using a French pressure cell (Thermo Spectronic) and is purified by chromatography on hydroxyapatite as described by Cashion et al., 1977. DNA-DNA hybridization is carried out as described by De Ley et al., 1970 under consideration of the modifications described by Huss et al., 1983 using a model Cary 100 Bio UV/VIS-spectrophotometer equipped with a Peltier thermostatted 6×6 multicell changer and a temperature controller with in-situ temperature probe (Varian). DSMZ reported % DNA-DNA similarly between A396 and Burkholderia multivorans of 37.4%. The results indicate that Burkholderia sp strain A396 does not belong to the species Burkholderia multivorans when the recommendations of a threshold value of 70% DNA-DNA similarity for the definition of bacterial species by the ad hoc committee (Wayne et al., 1987) are considered.

1.4. Biochemical Profile Using Biolog GN2 Plates

For the carbon source utilization profile, A396 is grown overnight on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The culture is transferred to BUG agar to produce an adequate culture for Biolog experiments as recommended by the manufacturer (Biolog, Hayward, Calif.).

The biochemical profile of the microorganism is determined by inoculating onto a Biolog GN2 plate and reading the plate after a 24-hour incubation using the MicroLog 4-automated microstation system. Identification of the unknown bacteria is attempted by comparing its carbon utilization pattern with the Microlog 4 Gram negative database.

No clear definitive matches are found to the Biolog profile. The closest matches all had less than 35% similarity with A396: Pseudomonas spinosa (Burkholderia), Burkholderia cepacia, and Burkholderia pseudomallei. The results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Biochemical Profile of A396 Substrate Result Substrate Result Cyclodextrin − L-arabinose − Dextrin − D-arabitol − Glycogen − D-cellobiose − Tween 40 + Erythritol − Tween 80 + D-Fructose − N-acetyl-D- − L-Fucose − Galactoseamine N-acetyl-D- − D-Galactose +/− glucosamine Adonitol − Gentibiose − Succinic Acid Mon-methyl − D-Glucose + ester Acetic acid − m-Inositol − Cis-aconitic acid − D-Lactose − Citric acid − Lactulose − Formic acid + Maltose − D-Galactonic Acid Lactone − D-Mannitol − D-Galacturonic Acid − D-Mannose − D-Gluconic acid − D-Melibiose − D-Glucosaminic acid − β-methyl-D-glucoside − D-Glucuronic Acid − D-Psicose − α-hydroxyburytic acid − D-Raffinose − β-hydroxybutyric acid + L-Rhamonose − γ-hydroxybutyric acid − D-Sorbitol − p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid − Sucrose − Itaconic acid − D-Trehalose + α-keto butyric acid − Turanose − α-keto glutaric acid − Xylitol − α-ket valeric acid − Pyruvic Acid Methyl − esther D,L-Lactic acid − Uridine − Malonic acid − Thymidine − Propionic acid + Phenyethyl-amine − Quinic acid − Putrescine − D-Saccharic acid − 2-aminoethanol − Sebacic acid − 2,3-Butanediol − Succinic Acid + Glycerol +/− Bromosuccinic acid − D,L-a-glycerol phosphate +/− Succinamic acid − α-D-Glucose-1- − phosphate Glucuronamide − D-glucose-6-phosphate + L-alaninamide + γ-amino butyric acid + D-Alanine − Urocanic acid − L-alanine + Inosine − L-alanyl-glycine − L-phenylalanine + L-asparagine + L-proline − L-aspartic acid +/− L-pyroglutamic acid − L-glutamic acid + D-serine − Glycyl-L-Aspartic acid − L-serine − Glycyl-L-glutamic acid − L-threonine − L-histidine − D,L-carnitine − Hydroxy-L-proline + L-ornithine − L-leucine −

1.5. Fatty Acid Composition

After incubation for 24 hours at 28° C., a loopful of well-grown cells are harvested and fatty acid methyl esters are prepared, separated and identified using the Sherlock Microbial Identification System (MIDI) as described (see Vandamme et al., 1992). The predominant fatty acids present in the Burkholderia A396 are as follows: 16:0 (24.4%), cyclo 17:0 (7.1%), 16:0 3-OH (4.4%), 14:0 (3.6%), 19:0 ω8c (2.6%) cyclo, 18:0 (1.0%). Summed feature 8 (comprising 18:1 ω7c) and summed feature 3 (comprising of 16:1 ω7c and 16:1 ω6c) corresponded to 26.2% and 20.2% of the total peak area, respectively. Summed feature 2 comprising 12:0 ALDE, 16:1 iso I, and 14:0 3-OH) corresponded to 5.8% of the total peak area while summed feature 5 comprising 18:0 ANTE and 18:2 ω6,9c corresponded to 0.4%. Other fatty acids detected in A396 in minor quantities included: 13:1 at 12-13 (0.2%), 14:1 ω5c (0.2%), 15:0 3-OH (0.13%), 17:1 ω7c (0.14%), 17:0 (0.15%), 16:0 iso 3-OH (0.2%), 16:0 2-OH (0.8%), 18:1 ω7c 11-methyl (0.15%), and 18:1 2-OH (0.4%).

A comparison of the fatty acid composition of A396 with those of known microbial strains in the MIDI database suggested that the fatty acids in the novel strain A396 were most similar with those of Burkholderia cenocepacia.

1.6 Resistance to Antibiotics

Antibiotic susceptibility of Burkholderia A396 is tested using antibiotic disks on Muller-Hinton medium as described in PML Microbiological's technical data sheet #535. Results obtained after 72-hour incubation at 25° C. are presented in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Susceptibility of MBI-206 to various antibiotics. Concentration (ug) Susceptible Tetracycline 30 − Kanamycin 30 +++ Erythromycin 15 − Streptomycin 10 − Penicillin 10 − Ampicillin 10 − Oxytetracycline 30 − Chloramphenicol 30 ++ Ciprofloxacin 5 ++ Gentamicin 10 − Piperacillin 100 +++ Cefuroxime 30 − Imipenem 10 +++ Sulphamethoxazole- 23.75/25 ++ Trimethoprim +++ very susceptible, ++ susceptible, − resistant

The results indicate that the antibiotic susceptibility spectrum of Burkholderia A396 is quite different from pathogenic B. cepacia complex strains. Burkholderia A396 is susceptible to kanamycin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin, imipenem, and a combination of sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim. As a comparison, Zhou et al., 2007 tested the susceptibility of 2,621 different strains in B. cepacia complex isolated from cystic fibrosis patients, and found that only 7% and 5% of all strains were susceptible to imipenem or ciprofloxacin, respectively. They also found 85% of all strains to be resistant to chloramphenicol (15% susceptible), and 95% to be resistant (5% susceptible) to the combination of sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Results of Zhou et al., 2007 are similar to those of Pitt et al., 1996 who determined antibiotic resistance among 366 B. cepacia isolates and reported that most of them are resistant to ciprofloxacin, cefuroxime, imipenem, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and sulphametoxacole.

2. Example 2 Burkholderia sp. as an Herbicide 2.1 Study #1

To confirm the activity found in the initial herbicide screen, an in vivo study is conducted using the Amberlite 7 XAD resin extract derived from a 5-day old whole cell broth of the novel Burkholderia species. The dried crude extract is resuspended in 4% ethanol and 0.2% non-ionic surfactant (glycosperse) at a concentration of 10 mg/mL, and further diluted to a concentration of 5.0 mg/mL. The two samples are sprayed on 4-week old plants of bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), and the plants are kept under growth lights at 25° C. for 2 weeks, at which point, the phytotoxicity evaluations are performed. In the same study, 2-week old redroot pigweed plants are sprayed with increasing concentrations of the crude extract derived from the bacterial culture. The test concentrations are 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/mL, and the plants are incubated as described above before phytotoxicity evaluations.

Results presented in FIGS. 2 (bindweed) and 3 (pigweed) show the phytotoxic effect of Burkholderia crude extract at different concentrations, and they show good herbicidal effect on pigweed even at low treatment concentrations. Both extract treatments (5 and 10 mg/mL) result in stunting on bindweed.

2.2 Study #2

A novel strain of Burkholderia sp. A396 is grown in an undefined mineral medium for 5 days (25° C., 200 rpm). The whole cell broth is extracted using XAD7 resin. The dried crude extract is resuspended in 4% ethanol and 0.2% non-ionic surfactant at a concentration of 10 mg/mL, and further diluted to concentrations of 5.0, 2.5, and 1.25 mg/mL. All four test solutions are then tested on the following broadleaf and grass weed species listed in Table 3:

TABLE 3 Broadleaf and Grass Weed Species Tested Common Name Scientific Name Lambsquarter Chenopodium album Horseweed Conyza canadensis Curlydock Rumex crispus Crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis Bluegrass Poa annua Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Nightshade Solanum nigrum Mustard Brassica kaber Mallow Malva neglecta Cocklebur Xanthium pensylvanicum Bermuda Grass Cynodon dactylon Foxtail Setaria lutescens Sowthistle Sonchus oleraceus A solution of 0.2% glycosperse and Roundup at 6 fl oz per gallon rate is used as negative and positive controls, respectively.

All plant species are tested in 4″×4″ plastic pots in three replicates. The untreated control plants are sprayed with the carrier solution (4% Ethanol, 0.2% glycosperse) and the positive control plants with Roundup at a rate corresponding to 6 fl. oz/acre. Treated plants are kept in a greenhouse under 12 h light/12 h dark conditions. Phytotoxicity data taken 22 days after treatment for species #1-8 and 12 days for species #9-12 are presented in Tables 5 and 6, respectively. The rating scale for both tables is shown in Table 4:

TABLE 4 Rating Scale Rating Scale % Control 0 0 1 <10 2 25 3 50 4 75 5 100

TABLE 5 Phytotoxicity Data for Species #1-8 Treatment Horseweed Lambsquarter Dandelion Curlydock Crabgrass Mustard Nightshade Bluegrass UTC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 1.25 mg/mL 0.0 4.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.3 0.0 0.0  2.5 mg/mL 0.7 4.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.7 0.0 0.0  5.0 mg/mL 4.3 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 10.0 mg/mL 4.7 5.0 0.0 0.0* 0.0 5.0 1.5 0.0 Roundup 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 *stunting that resulted in plants approximately half the size of untreated plants

TABLE 6 Phytotoxicity Data for Species #9-12 Cockle- Bermuda Treatment bur Foxtail Grass Sowthistle Mallow UTC 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 2.8 1.25 mg/mL 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.0 2.0  2.5 mg/mL 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.0 2.7  5.0 mg/mL 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.0 2.2 10.0 mg/mL 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.2 1.7 Roundup 4.7 4.8 4.7 5.0 5.0

Based on the results obtained in these studies, the compounds extracted from fermentation broths of the isolated Burkholderia species had herbicidal activity against several weed species are tested. Of the twelve species tested, Lambsquarters and mustard are most susceptible, followed by mallow and horseweed. Extract concentration as low as 1.25 mg/mL is able to provide almost complete control of Lambsquarters and mustard, whereas higher concentration is required for the mallow and horseweed.

In a separate experiment, using the same design as described above, systemic activity is tested. A 10 mg/ml crude extract supernatant of Burkholderia sp. A396 is painted onto first true leaves of Ragweed, Mustard, Nightshade, Crabgrass, Wheat and Barnyard Grass. Seedlings are evaluated 7 days after treatment. Observed symptoms include: burning, warping, bleaching Herbicidal activity is observed in the next leaf above the treated leaf in Ragweed, Mustard and Nightshade. No systemic activity is observed in the tested grasses. In a second experiment, five fractions of the same crude extract (10 mg/ml) are evaluated using the same experimental design as described above. Seedlings of Mustard, Wheat and Crabgrass are treated. Seven and 20 days after treatment, symptoms of herbicidal activity are observed in Mustard from four out of the five fractions (091113B4F6, 091113B4F7, 091113B4F8 and 091113B4F9) using a C-18 column (Phenomenex Sepra C18-E, 50 μm, 65 Å). Symptoms are observed in the next leaf above the treated leaf. No systemic activity is observed in the tested grasses.

3. Example 3 Burkholderia sp. as an Insecticide 3.1. Contact Activity Studies

The following assay is used in the initial screening phase to determine if the compounds derived from a culture of the novel Burkholderia species has contact activity against a Lepidopteran pest (larvae). It is further used as a tool for the bioassay-guided fractionation to determine the active fractions and peaks derived from the whole-cell-broth extract. The test is conducted in individual 1.25 oz plastic cups using either Cabbage looper (Tricoplusia ni) late third instar larvae or Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) early third instar larvae. A 1 cm×1 cm piece of solid Beet armyworm diet is placed in the center of each cup together with one larvae. A 1 μl aliquot of each treatment (whole cell broth or extract from a 5-day-old Burkholderia A396 culture) is injected on each larvae thorax (dorsal side) using a Hamilton Precision Syringe. Each treatment is replicated ten times. Water is used as a negative control treatment and malathion as the positive control treatment. After injection, each cup is covered with parafilm with an airhole, and the cups are incubated for three days at 26° C. Mortality evaluations are done daily, starting 24 hours after the treatment.

FIGS. 4 and 5 present the results from contact activity tests. According to the results, the filter-sterilized broth from a Burkholderia sp culture killed about 40% of all test insects within 3 days. Diluted broth (50%) has lower activity, resulting in about 10% control in both insects tested.

3.2. Activity Against Larvae Through Feeding

Direct toxicity via feeding is tested using the diet-overlay tests with following 96-well plate assay format using microtiter plates with 200 μl of solid, artificial Beet Armyworm diet in each well. One hundred (100) microliters of each test sample is pipetted on the top of the diet (one sample in each well), and the sample is let dry under flowing air until the surface is dry. Each sample (filter-sterilized through a 0.2 micron filter) is tested in six replicates, and water and a commercial Bt (B. thuringiensis) product are used as negative and positive controls, respectively. One third instar larvae of the test insect (Cabbage looper—Trichoplusia ni; Beet armyworm—Spodoptera exiqua; Diamondback Moth—Plutella xylostella) is placed in each well, and the plate is covered with plastic cover with airholes. The plates with insects are incubated at 26° C. for 6 days with daily mortality evaluations.

FIG. 5 represents data from a diet overlay study with Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) early third instar larvae tested at four different broth concentrations: 1× (100%), ¼× (25%), ⅛× (12.5%), 1/16× (6.125%). The data shows that the undiluted, filter-sterilized broth is able to give 100% control at the end of the 7-day incubation period. Similar control is obtained with a 4-fold dilution of the broth, and in the end of the study, both undiluted and 4-fold diluted broths are comparable to Bt used as a positive control. However, the effect of Bt is significantly faster than that of the Burkholderia broths. Efficacy against armyworm larvae is dependent on broth concentration, and the two lowest broth concentrations (12.5% and 6.125%) provided less control than the two highest ones. However, the performance of the 12.5% dilution is not much lower than the 25% dilution. The 16-fold dilution of broth is clearly not efficient enough, and it only provided partial (33%) control of armyworm larvae during this 7-day study. The corresponding mortality rates for the same broth dilution used on cabbage loopers and diamondback moth larvae are a little higher with 6.125% broth killing 80% and 50% of larvae, respectively.

3.3. In Vitro Activity Against Sucking Insects

Five stinkbug (Euschistus sp.) adults are placed in each 16 oz plastic container lined with a piece of paper towel. A microcentrifuge tube containing 2 mL of each test sample (filter sterilized whole broth) is capped with a cotton ball, and laid down on the bottom of the plastic container. One sunflower seed is placed next to the tube as bait. Water and a commercial product with a mixture of pyrethrin and PBO at a recommended rate are used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Each container is closed with a lid, and they are incubated at 25° C. for 7 days with daily mortality checks.

Results are presented below in Table 7 and they show about 80% control of sucking insect (stinkbug) by day 7 in this in vitro system with 50% diluted broth. In this study, the diluted fermentation broth of Burkholderia A396 is more effective in controlling stinkbugs than the commercial product used as a positive control. Interestingly, the non-diluted broth resulted in lower insect control, which might be an indication of antifeedant (feeding inhibition) properties of the active secondary metabolites produced by this new species of Burkholderia.

TABLE 7 Effect of A396 on Stinkbugs % control % control % control Treatment (Day 3) (Day 5) (Day 7) A396 undil. broth (1x) 0 0 40 A396 broth dil. 50% (0.5x) 20 20 80 Pyrethrin + PBO (pos control) 0 0 40 Water (neg control) 0 0 0

4. Example 4 Sucking Insect Test In Vivo

The in vivo efficacy of the filtered whole cell broth is tested in a plant assay with mustard plants and green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) as the test insect. Approximately one-month-old Florida Broadleaf mustard (Brassica sp.) plants are sprayed with two different concentrations (1× and 0.5×) of the filter sterilized whole cell broth of Burkholderia sp. using a Paasche airbrush. Water and a commercial product of avermectin (Avid) are used as negative and positive controls, respectively. The plants are allowed to dry on the benchtop, after which they are placed in a 6-cup plastic container with a lid with airholes. Ten aphids at various developmental stages are placed on each test plant, and the plants are incubated under growth lamps for 7 days at 25° C. Daily evaluations for the number of aphids on each plant (summarized in table Table 8 below) are made and recorded in a notebook.

TABLE 8 In vivo Efficacy of A396 on Green Peach Aphids # live # live # live # live aphids aphids aphids aphids Treatment Day 0 Day 2 Day 4 Day 7 A396 undiluted broth (1x) 10 36 88 145 A396 broth diluted (0.5x) 10 47 138 217 Avermectin (pos control) 10 0 0 0 Water (neg control) 10 140 364 393

According to the results, both concentrations of the filter-sterilized broth derived from a culture of a novel species of Burkholderia are able to control the population growth of a sucking insect, M. persicae.

5. Example 5 Nematocidal Activity 5.1 Study #1

To assess the effect of filter-sterilized Burkholderia sp A396 culture broth on the motility (and subsequent recovery) of juvenile (J2) root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita VW6), the following test is conducted on 24-well plastic cell-culture plates:

A 300-ul aliquot of each test solution (either 1× and 0.5× filter-sterilized broth) is added into appropriate wells after which, fifteen nematodes dispensed in 10 μl of DI water are added into each well, plate is closed with a lid, and incubated at 25° C. for 24 hours. Water and Avid at 20,000× dilution are used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Effect of each compound on nematode mobility is checked after 24 hours by probing each nematode with a needle, and the proportion of immobile nematodes in each treatment is recorded in a notebook using a % scale. To assess the recovery of mobility in each treatment, a volume of 200 μl is removed from each well, and the remaining solution in each well is diluted by adding 2 mL of DI water. Plates are again incubated for 24 hours as described above, after which the second mobility evaluation is performed.

The results presented in FIG. 6 show the filter-sterilized broth at both test concentrations can immobilize the free-living juvenile root-knot nematodes. This effect lasts at least for 24-hours, which suggests that Burkholderia A396 broth can be used to prevent plants from nematode infections.

5.2 Study #2 Materials and Methods

Mini Drench Test: Burkholderia A396 whole cell broth is tested in a greenhouse assay conducted in 45 ml pots. Cucumber seeds cv. Toshka are sown directly into pots filled with a sandy loam soil. Ten days later, pots were each treated with 5 ml of a suspension. Specific amounts used are shown in Table 9:

TABLE 9 Compounds Burkholderia strain A396 Fosthiazate (Standard, EC 150) (positive control) Test species Meloidogyne sp. applied at 3000 eggs per mini drench pot (in 2 ml) Test plant Cucumis sativus (cucumber cv. Toschka) Test formulation 100% liquid formulation Test concentrations 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6, 3, 1.5 ml/L Test application Drench application

As indicated in Table 9, pots are inoculated with 3000 eggs of M. incognita. Four replicates were prepared for each treatment and rate. The trial was harvested fourteen days after trial application and inoculation. Root galling was assessed according to Zeck's gall index (Zeck, 1971). Phytotoxicity was measured as a reduction of root galling in comparison to the control. The results are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In Mini Drench Test no. 1 (see FIG. 9), the activity of the treatment was very high and a reduction of almost 100% was observed when applied at a concentration of 100 ml/L Burkholderia A396. Fosthiazate performed as usual (100% control at 20 ppm).

In Mini Drench Test no. 2 (see FIG. 10) a 100% reduction of root galling was achieved at the highest concentration of 100 ml/L dropping to approximately 50% at 1.5 ml/L. Fosthiazate performed as usual (100% control at 20 ppm).

5.3 Study #3

To demonstrate the nematicidal activity of Burkholderia A396, a greenhouse study on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is performed using a whole cell broth of Burkholderia A396 as the test product to control root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita). One cucumber plant per pot is planted in soil and grown in a greenhouse under artificial lights at 28° C. Each pot with a plant is treated with an aliquot (about 80 mL) of either the undiluted test product or a test product diluted to 5% with water. Each Burkholderia A396 treatment as well as a positive control treatment with Temik (at a label rate) and a negative control with no additions consisted of five replicates. Plants are grown in a greenhouse for 60 days, after which each plant was harvested and evaluated for fresh shoot and root weights. Number of nematode eggs in each pot was recorded and a parameter indicating the number of eggs per a gram of root mass was calculated. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) is perfomed, and the statistical differences among treatment means at p<0.1 was calculated. Data presented in Table 10 below shows that even though not statistically different from the untreated control, the pots treated with A396 whole cell broth contained less nematode eggs than the untreated control pots. The effect calculated as number of eggs per root mass is more clear when undiluted broth is used as a treatment.

TABLE 10 The effect of A396 whole cell broth on the cucumber shoot and root weight, total number of M. incognita eggs per pot and the number of eggs per gram of root mass. shoot fresh root fresh # of # of eggs/g wt wt eggs of root untreated 15.22 b 11.76 bc 67693 a 5252.0 ab A396 5% v/v 11.89 b  6.914 c 56084 a 8419.4 a A 396 undiluted 15.66 b 11.09 bc 40463 a 3929.2 ab Temik 15 G 5 lb/a 29.54 a 29.74 a 68907 a 2604.4 b LSD at p < 0.1  5.34  6.9879 36509.2 3317.07

6. Example 6 Isolation of Templazole A and B Methods and Materials

The following procedure is used for the purification of Templazole A and B extracted from cell culture of Burkholderia sp (see FIG. 7):

The culture broth derived from the 10-L fermentation Burkholderia (A396) in Hy soy growth medium is extracted with Amberlite XAD-7 resin (Asolkar et al., 2006) by shaking the cell suspension with resin at 225 rpm for two hours at room temperature. The resin and cell mass are collected by filtration through cheesecloth and washed with DI water to remove salts. The resin, cell mass, and cheesecloth are then soaked for 2 h in acetone after which the acetone is filtered and dried under vacuum using rotary evaporator to give the crude extract. The crude extract is then fractionated by using reversed-phase C18 vacuum liquid chromatography (H₂O/CH₃OH; gradient 90:20 to 0:100%) to give 10 fractions. These fractions are then concentrated to dryness using rotary evaporator and the resulting dry residues are screened for biological activity using 96 well plate lettuce seeding assay. The active fractions are then subjected to reversed phase HPLC (Spectra System P4000 (Thermo Scientific) to give pure compounds, which are then screened in above mentioned bioassays to locate/identify the active compounds. To confirm the identity of the compound, additional spectroscopic data such as LC/MS and NMR is recorded.

The active fraction 4 is purified further by using HPLC C-18 column (Phenomenex, Luna 10u C18(2) 100 A, 250×30), water:acetonitrile gradient solvent system (0-10 min; 80% aqueous CH₃CN, 10-25 min; 80-65% aqueous CH₃CN, 25-50 min; 65-50% aqueous CH₃CN, 50-60 min; 50-70% CH₃CN, 60-80 min; 70-0% aqueous CH₃CN, 80-85 min; 0-20% aqueous CH₃CN) at 8 mL/min flow rate and UV detection of 210 nm, to give templazole B, retention time 46.65 min. The other active fraction 6 is also purified using HPLC C-18 column (Phenomenex, Luna 10u C18(2) 100 A, 250×30), water:acetonitrile gradient solvent system (0-10 min; 80% aqueous CH₃CN, 10-25 min; 80-60% aqueous CH₃CN, 25-50 min; 60-40% aqueous CH₃CN, 50-60 min; 40% CH₃CN, 60-80 min; 40-0% aqueous CH₃CN, 80-85 min; 0-20% aqueous CH₃CN) at 8 mL/min flow rate and UV detection of 210 nm, to give templazole A, retention time 70.82 min.

Mass spectroscopy analysis of pure compounds is performed on a Thermo Finnigan LCQ Deca XP Plus electrospray (ESI) instrument using both positive and negative ionization modes in a full scan mode (m/z 100-1500 Da) on a LCQ DECA XP^(plus) Mass Spectrometer (Thermo Electron Corp., San Jose, Calif.). Thermo high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrument equipped with Finnigan Surveyor PDA plus detector, autosampler plus, MS pump and a 4.6 mm×100 mm Luna C18 5 μm column (Phenomenex). The solvent system consists of water (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B). The mobile phase begins at 10% solvent B and is linearly increased to 100% solvent B over 20 min and then kept for 4 min, and finally returned to 10% solvent B over 3 min and kept for 3 min. The flow rate is 0.5 mL/min. The injection volume was 10 μL and the samples are kept at room temperature in an auto sampler. The compounds are analyzed by LC-MS utilizing the LC and reversed phase chromatography. Mass spectroscopy analysis of the present compounds is performed under the following conditions: The flow rate of the nitrogen gas was fixed at 30 and 15 arb for the sheath and aux/sweep gas flow rate, respectively. Electrospray ionization was performed with a spray voltage set at 5000 V and a capillary voltage at 35.0 V. The capillary temperature was set at 400° C. The data was analyzed on Xcalibur software. The active compound templazole A has a molecular mass of 298 and showed m/z ion at 297.34 in negative ionization mode. The LC-MS chromatogram for templazole B suggests a molecular mass of 258 and exhibited m/z ion at 257.74 in negative ionization mode.

¹H, ¹³C and 2D NMR spectra were measured on a Bruker 500 MHz & 600 MHz gradient field spectrometer. The reference is set on the internal standard tetramethylsilane (TMS, 0.00 ppm).

For structure elucidation of templazole A, the purified compound with a molecular weight 298 is further analyzed using a 500 MHz NMR instrument, and has ¹H NMR δ values at 8.44, 8.74, 8.19, 7.47, 7.31, 3.98, 2.82, 2.33, 1.08 and has ¹³C NMR δ values of 163.7, 161.2, 154.8, 136.1, 129.4, 125.4, 123.5, 123.3, 121.8, 121.5, 111.8, 104.7, 52.2, 37.3, 28.1, 22.7, 22.7. Templazole A has UV absorption bands at 226, 275, 327 nm, which suggested the presence of indole and oxazole rings. The molecular formula, C₁₇H₁₈N₂O₃, was determined by interpretation of ¹H, ¹³C NMR and HRESI MS data m/z 299.1396 (M+H)⁺ (Calcd for C₁₇H₁₉N₂O₃, 299.1397), which entails a high degree of unsaturation shown by 10 double bond equivalents. The ¹³C NMR spectrum revealed signals for all 17 carbons, including two methyls, a methoxy, a methylene carbon, an aliphatic methine, an ester carbonyl, and eleven aromatic carbons. The presence of 3′-substituted indole was revealed from ¹H-¹H COSY and HMBC spectral data. The ¹H-¹H COSY and HMBC also indicated the presence of a carboxylic acid methyl ester group and a —CH₂—CH—(CH₃)₂ side chain. From the detailed analysis of ¹H-¹H COSY, ¹³C, and HMBC data it was derived that the compound contained an oxazole nucleus. From the 2D analysis it was found that the iso-butyl side chain was attached at C-2 position, a carboxylic acid methyl ester at C-4 position and the indole unit at C-5 position to give templazole A.

The second herbicidally active compound, templazole B, with a molecular weight 258 is further analyzed using a 500 MHz NMR instrument, and has ¹H NMR δ values at 7.08, 7.06, 6.75, 3.75, 2.56, 2.15, 0.93, 0.93 and ¹³C NMR values of δ 158.2, 156.3, 155.5, 132.6, 129.5, 129.5, 127.3, 121.8, 115.2, 115.2, 41.2, 35.3, 26.7, 21.5, 21.5. The molecular formula, is assigned as C₁₅H₁₈N₂O₂, which is determined by interpretation of ¹H, ¹³C NMR and mass data. The ¹³C NMR spectrum revealed signals for all 15 carbons, including two methyls, two methylene carbons, one aliphatic methine, one amide carbonyl, and nine aromatic carbons. The general nature of the structure was deduced from ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra that showed a para-substituted aromatic ring [δ 7.08 (2H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 6.75 (2H, d, J=8.8 Hz), and 132.7, 129.5, 115.2, 127.3, 115.2, 129.5]. The ¹H NMR spectrum of this structure together with the ¹H-¹H COSY and HSQC spectra, displayed characteristic signals for an isobutyl moiety [δ 0.93 (6H, d, J=6.9 Hz), 2.15 (1H, sept., J=6.9 Hz), 2.57 (2H, d, J=6.9 Hz). In addition, an olefinic/aromatic proton at (δ 7.06, s), and a carbonyl carbon group (δ 158.9) were also found in the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. On inspection of the HMBC spectrum, the H-1′ signal in the isobutyl moiety correlated with the olefinic carbon (C-2, δ 156.3), and the olefinic proton II-4 correlated with (C-5, δ 155.5; C-2, 156.3 & C-1″, 41.2). The methylene signal at δ 3.75 correlated with C-5, C-4 as well as the C-2″ of the para-substituted aromatic moiety. All these observed correlations suggested the connectivity among the isobutyl, and the para-substituted benzyl moieties for the skeleton of the structure as shown. In addition, the carboxamide group is assigned at the para position of the benzyl moiety based on the HMBC correlation from the aromatic proton at H-4″ & H-6″ position. Thus, based on the above data, the structure was designated as templazole B.

7. Example 7 Isolation of FR90128

The whole cell broth from the fermentation of Burkholderia sp. in an undefined growth medium is extracted with Amberlite XAD-7 resin (Asolkar et al., 2006) by shaking the cell suspension with resin at 225 rpm for two hours at room temperature. The resin and cell mass are collected by filtration through cheesecloth and washed with DI water to remove salts. The resin, cell mass, and cheesecloth are then soaked for 2 h in acetone after which the acetone is filtered and dried under vacuum using rotary evaporator to give the crude extract. The crude extract is then fractionated by using reversed-phase C18 vacuum liquid chromatography (H₂O/CH₃OH; gradient 90:20 to 0:100%) to give 10 fractions. These fractions are then concentrated to dryness using rotary evaporator and the resulting dry residues are screened for biological activity using both insect bioassay as well as herbicidal bioassay. The active fractions are then subjected to reversed/normal phase HPLC (Spectra System P4000; Thermo Scientific) to give pure compounds, which are then screened in herbicidal, insecticidal and nematicidal bioassays described below to locate/identify the active compounds. To confirm the identity of the compound, additional spectroscopic data such as LC/MS and NMR is recorded.

Mass spectroscopy analysis of active peaks is performed on a Thermo Finnigan LCQ Deca XP Plus electrospray (ESI) instrument using both positive and negative ionization modes in a full scan mode (m/z 100-1500 Da) on a LCQ DECA XP^(plus) Mass Spectrometer (Thermo Electron Corp., San Jose, Calif.). Thermo high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrument equipped with Finnigan Surveyor PDA plus detector, autosampler plus, MS pump and a 4.6 mm×100 mm Luna C18 5 μm column (Phenomenex). The solvent system consists of water (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B). The mobile phase begins at 10% solvent B and is linearly increased to 100% solvent B over 20 min and then kept for 4 min, and finally returned to 10% solvent B over 3 min and kept for 3 min. The flow rate is 0.5 mL/min. The injection volume is 10 μL and the samples are kept at room temperature in an auto sampler. The compounds are analyzed by LC-MS utilizing the LC and reversed phase chromatography. Mass spectroscopy analysis of the present compounds is performed under the following conditions: The flow rate of the nitrogen gas is fixed at 30 and 15 arb for the sheath and aux/sweep gas flow rate, respectively. Electrospray ionization is performed with a spray voltage set at 5000 V and a capillary voltage at 35.0 V. The capillary temperature is set at 400° C. The data is analyzed on Xcalibur software. Based on the LC-MS analysis, the active insecticidal compound from fraction 5 has a molecular mass of 540 in negative ionization mode.

For structure elucidation, the purified insecticidal compound from fraction 5 with molecular weight 540 is further analyzed using a 500 MHz NMR instrument, and has ¹H NMR values at 6.22, 5.81, 5.69, 5.66, 5.65, 4.64, 4.31, 3.93, 3.22, 3.21, 3.15, 3.10, 2.69, 2.62, 2.26, 2.23. 1.74, 1.15, 1.12, 1.05, 1.02; and has ¹³C NMR values of 172.99, 172.93, 169.57, 169.23, 167.59, 130.74, 130.12, 129.93, 128.32, 73.49, 62.95, 59.42, 57.73, 38.39, 38.00, 35.49, 30.90, 30.36, 29.26, 18.59, 18.38, 18.09, 17.93, 12.51. The NMR data indicates that the compound contains amino, ester, carboxylic acid, aliphatic methyl, ethyl, methylene, oxymethylene, methine, oxymethine and sulfur groups. The detailed 1D and 2D NMR analysis confirms the structure for the compound as FR90128 as a known compound.

8. Example 8 Herbicidal Activity of FR90128

The herbicidal activity of the active compound FR90128 (MW 540) is tested in a laboratory assay using one-week old barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) seedlings in a 96-well plate platform. One grass seedling was placed in each of the wells containing 99 microliters of DI water. One microliter aliquot of the pure compound in ethanol (10 mg/mL) is added into each well, and the plate is sealed with a lid. One microliter of ethanol in 99 microliters of water is used as a negative control. The treatments were done in eight replicates, and the sealed plate is incubated in a greenhouse under artificial lights (12 hr light/dark cycle). After five days, the results are read. The grass seedlings in all eight wells that received the active compound are dead with no green tissue left, whereas the seedlings in the negative control wells were actively growing.

9. Example 9 Insecticidal Activity of FR90128

The insecticidal activity of the active compound FR90128 (MW 540) is tested in a laboratory assay using a contact bioassay system. The compound is dissolved in 100% ethanol to concentrations of 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 μg/μL. Individual early 3^(rd) instar Beet Armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, larvae are placed in 1.25 ounce plastic cups with a 1 cm² piece of artificial diet (Bio-Serv). A Hamilton Micropipette is used to apply 1 μL of compound to the thorax of each larvae. Cups are covered with stretched parafilm and a single hole is cut into the parafilm for aeration. Ten larvae per concentration are treated. The assay is incubated at 25° C., 12 h light/12 h dark. Larvae are scored at 48 and 72 hours after application. Probit analysis is performed to assess LC₅₀ value which is found for compound (MW 540) as 0.213.

10. Example 10 Isolation of Templamide A, B, FR901465 and FR90128 Methods and Materials

The following procedure is used for the purification of compounds extracted from cell culture of Burkholderia sp (see FIG. 7):

The culture broth derived from the 10-L fermentation Burkholderia (A396) in Hy soy growth medium is extracted with Amberlite XAD-7 resin (Asolkar et al., 2006) by shaking the cell suspension with resin at 225 rpm for two hours at room temperature. The resin and cell mass are collected by filtration through cheesecloth and washed with DI water to remove salts. The resin, cell mass, and cheesecloth are then soaked for 2 h in acetone after which the acetone is filtered and dried under vacuum using rotary evaporator to give the crude extract. The crude extract is then fractionated by using reversed-phase C18 vacuum liquid chromatography (H₂O/CH₃OH; gradient 90:20 to 0:100%) to give 10 fractions. These fractions are then concentrated to dryness using rotary evaporator and the resulting dry residues are screened for biological activity using 96 well plate lettuce seeding (herbicidal) and early 3^(rd) instar Beet Armyworm (insecticidal) assay. The active fractions are then subjected to repeatedly to reversed phase HPLC separation (Spectra System P4000 (Thermo Scientific) to give pure compounds, which are then screened in above-mentioned bioassays to locate/identify the active compounds. To confirm the identity of the compound, additional spectroscopic data such as LC/MS, HRMS and NMR are recorded.

The active fraction 5 is purified further by using HPLC C-18 column (Phenomenex, Luna 10u C18(2) 100 A, 250×30), water:acetonitrile gradient solvent system (0-10 min; 80% aqueous CH₃CN, 10-25 min; 80-65% aqueous CH₃CN, 25-50 min; 65-50% aqueous CH₃CN, 50-60 min; 50-70% aqueous CH₃CN, 60-80 min; 70-0% aqueous CH₃CN, 80-85 min; 0-20% aqueous CH₃CN) at 8 mL/min flow rate and UV detection of 210 nm, to give templamide A, retention time 55.64 min and FR901465, retention time 63.59 min and FR90128, retention time 66.65 min respectively. The other active fraction 6 is also purified using HPLC C-18 column (Phenomenex, Luna 10u C18(2) 100 A, 250×30), water:acetonitrile gradient solvent system (0-10 min; 70-60% aqueous CH₃CN, 10-20 min; 60-40% aqueous CH₃CN, 20-50 min; 40-15% aqueous CH₃CN, 50-75 min; 15-0% CH₃CN, 75-85 min; 0-70% aqueous CH₃CN) at 8 mL/min flow rate and UV detection of 210 nm, to give templamide B, retention time 38.55 min.

Mass spectroscopy analysis of pure compounds is performed on a Thermo Finnigan LCQ Deca XP Plus electrospray (ESI) instrument using both positive and negative ionization modes in a full scan mode (m/z 100-1500 Da) on a LCQ DECA XP^(plus) Mass Spectrometer (Thermo Electron Corp., San Jose, Calif.). Thermo high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrument equipped with Finnigan Surveyor PDA plus detector, autosampler plus, MS pump and a 4.6 mm×100 mm Luna C18 5 column (Phenomenex) is used. The solvent system consists of water (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B). The mobile phase begins at 10% solvent B and is linearly increased to 100% solvent B over 20 min and then kept for 4 min, and finally returns to 10% solvent B over 3 min and kept for 3 min. The flow rate is 0.5 mL/min. The injection volume is 10 μL and the samples are kept at room temperature in an auto sampler. The compounds are analyzed by LC-MS utilizing the LC and reversed phase chromatography. Mass spectroscopy analysis of the present compounds is performed under the following conditions: The flow rate of the nitrogen gas is fixed at 30 and 15 arb for the sheath and aux/sweep gas flow rate, respectively. Electrospray ionization is performed with a spray voltage set at 5000 V and a capillary voltage at 45.0 V. The capillary temperature is set at 300° C. The data is analyzed on Xcalibur software. The active compound templamide A has a molecular mass of 555 based on the m/z peak at 556.41 [M+H]⁺ and 578.34 [M+Na]⁺ in positive ionization mode. The LC-MS analysis in positive mode ionization for templamide B suggests a molecular mass of 537 based m/z ions at 538.47 [M+H]⁺ and 560.65 [M+Na]⁺. The molecular weight for the compounds FR901465 and FR90128 are assigned as 523 and 540 respectively on the basis of LCMS analysis.

¹H, ¹³C and 2D NMR spectra are measured on a Bruker 600 MHz gradient field spectrometer. The reference is set on the internal standard tetramethylsilane (TMS, 0.00 ppm).

For structure elucidation of templamide A, the purified compound with molecular weight 555 is further analyzed using a 600 MHz NMR instrument, and has ¹H NMR δ values at 6.40, 6.39, 6.00, 5.97, 5.67, 5.54, 4.33, 3.77, 3.73, 3.70, 3.59, 3.47, 3.41, 2.44, 2.35, 2.26, 1.97, 1.81, 1.76, 1.42, 1.37, 1.16, 1.12, 1.04 and has ¹³C NMR values of 8 173.92, 166.06, 145.06, 138.76, 135.71, 129.99, 126.20, 123.35, 99.75, 82.20, 78.22, 76.69, 71.23, 70.79, 70.48, 69.84, 60.98, 48.84, 36.89, 33.09, 30.63, 28.55, 25.88, 20.37, 18.11, 14.90, 12.81, 9.41. The ¹³C NMR spectrum exhibits 28 discrete carbon signals which are attributed to six methyls, four methylene carbons, and thirteen methines including five sp², four quaternary carbons. The molecular formula, C₂₈H₄₅NO₁₀, is determined by interpretation of ¹H, ¹³C NMR and HRESI MS data. The detailed analysis of ¹H-¹H COSY, HMBC and HMQC spectral data reveals the following substructures (I-IV) and two isolated methylene & singlet methyl groups. These substructures are connected later using the key HMBC correlations to give the planer structure for the compound, which has been not yet reported in the literature and designated as templamide A. This polyketide molecule contains two tetrahydropyranose rings, and one conjugated amide.

Substructures I-IV assigned by analysis of 1D & 2D NMR spectroscopic data.

The (+) ESIMS analysis for the second herbicidal compound, shows m/z ions at 538.47 [M+H]⁺ and 560.65 [M+Na⁺] corresponding to the molecular weight of 537. The molecular formula of C₂₈H₄₃NO₉ is determined by interpretation of the ESIMS and NMR data analysis. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR of this compound is similar to that of templamide A except that a new isolated —CH₂— appear instead of the non-coupled methylene group in templamide A. The small germinal coupling constant of 4.3 Hz is characteristic of the presence of an epoxide methylene group. The presence of this epoxide is further confirmed from the ¹³C NMR shift from 60.98 in templamide A to 41.07 in compound with MW 537. The molecular formulae difference between these two compounds is reasonably explained by elimination of the water molecule followed by formation of epoxide. Thus, on the basis of based NMR and MS analysis the structure for the new compound was assigned and was designated as templamide B.

For structure elucidation, the purified compound from fraction 5 with molecular weight 523 is further analyzed using a 600 MHz NMR instrument, and has ¹H NMR δ values at 6.41, 6.40, 6.01, 5.98, 5.68, 5.56, 4.33, 3.77, 3.75, 3.72, 3.65, 3.59, 3.55, 3.50, 2.44, 2.26, 2.04, 1.96, 1.81, 1.75, 1.37, 1.17, 1.04; and has ¹³C NMR δ values of 172.22, 167.55, 144.98, 138.94, 135.84, 130.14, 125.85, 123.37, 99.54, 82.19, 78.28, 76.69, 71.31, 70.13, 69.68, 48.83, 42.52, 36.89, 33.11, 30.63, 25.99, 21.20, 20.38, 18.14, 14.93, 12.84. The detailed ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis of compound suggested that this compound was quite similar to compound templamide B; the only difference was in the ester side chain; an acetate moiety was present instead of a propionate moiety in the side chain. The detailed 1D and 2D NMR analysis confirm the structure for the compound as FR901465 as a known compound.

Based on the LC-MS analysis, the other compound from fraction 5 has a molecular mass of 540 in negative ionization mode. For structure elucidation, the purified compound from fraction 5 with molecular weight 540 is further analyzed using a 500 MHz NMR instrument, and has ¹H NMR δ values at 6.22, 5.81, 5.69, 5.66, 5.65, 4.64, 4.31, 3.93, 3.22, 3.21, 3.15, 3.10, 2.69, 2.62, 2.26, 2.23. 1.74, 1.15, 1.12, 1.05, 1.02; and has ¹³C NMR values of 172.99, 172.93, 169.57, 169.23, 167.59, 130.74, 130.12, 129.93, 128.32, 73.49, 62.95, 59.42, 57.73, 38.39, 38.00, 35.49, 30.90, 30.36, 29.26, 18.59, 18.38, 18.09, 17.93, 12.51. The NMR data indicates that the compound contains amino, ester, carboxylic acid, aliphatic methyl, ethyl, methylene, oxymethylene, methine, oxymethine and sulfur groups. The detailed 1D and 2D NMR analysis confirm the structure for the compound as FR90128 as a known compound.

11. Example 11 Herbicidal activity of Templamide A, Templamide B, FR901465 and FR90128

The herbicidal activity of templamide A, B, FR901465 and FR90128 are tested in a laboratory assay using one-week old barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedlings in a 96-well plate platform. One seedling is placed in each of the wells containing 99 microliters of DI water. Into each well, a one microliter aliquot of the pure compound in ethanol (10 mg/mL) is added, and the plate is sealed with a lid. One microliter of ethanol in 99 microliters of water is used as a negative control. The treatments are done in eight replicates, and the sealed plate is incubated in a greenhouse under artificial lights (12 hr light/dark cycle). After five days, the results are read. The grass seedlings in all eight wells that received the active compound are dead with no green tissue left, whereas the seedlings in the negative control wells are actively growing. The herbicidal activity of templamide A against lettuce seedlings is slightly lower than for the grass. On the other hand, templamide B provides a better (100%) control of lettuce seedlings (used as a model system for broadleaf weeds) than templamide A (Table 11).

TABLE 11 Herbicidal Bioassay data for Templamide A, B, FR901465 and FR90128 Grass seedlings Lettuce seedlings Compounds¹ (% Mortality) (% Mortality) Templamide A 100 88 Templamide B 0 75 FR901465 88 100 FR90128 100 88 Control 0 0 ¹10 μg/mL concentration per well

12. Example 12 Insecticidal Activity of Active Compounds

The insecticidal activity of templamide A, B, FR901465 and FR90128 are tested in a laboratory assay using a 96-well diet overlay assay with 1 instar Beet Armyworm larvae using microtiter plates with 200 μl of solid, artificial Beet Armyworm diet in each well. One hundred (100) μl of each test sample is pipetted on the top of the diet (one sample in each well), and the sample is let dry under flowing air until the surface is dry. Each sample was tested in six replicates, and water and a commercial Bt (B. thuringiensis) product are used as negative and positive controls, respectively. One first instar larvae of the test insect (Beet armyworm—Spodoptera exiqua) was placed in each well, and the plate was covered with plastic cover with airholes. The plates with insects were incubated at 26° C. for 6 days with daily mortality evaluations. Based on the results presented in Table 12, templamide A and B results in 40% and 80% mortality, respectively.

TABLE 12 Insecticidal Bioassay data for Templamide A, B, FR901465 and FR90128 against 1^(st) instar Beet Army Worm (Spodoptera exigua). Compounds¹ (% Mortality) Templamide A 40 Templamide B 80 FR901465 50 FR90128 90 Bt 100 Control 0 ¹10 μg/mL concentration per well

Example 13 Fungicidal Activity of FR90128 (MW 540)

Fungicidal activity of FR90128 (MW 540) against three plant pathogenic fungi (Botrytis cinerea, Phytophtora sp., Monilinia fructicola) is tested in an in vitro PDA (potato dextrose agar) plate assay. Plates are inoculated with the fungus using a plug method. After the fungus had established and started to grow on the growth medium, eight sterile filter paper disks are placed on each plate about 1 cm from the edge in a circle. Ten microliters of ethanol solution containing 20, 15, 10, 7.5, 5, 2.5 1.25 mg FR90128/mL is added into filter paper disks, and the solution is left to evaporate. One disk imbedded with 10 μL of pure ethanol is used as a negative control. The assay is done with three replicates. Plates are incubated at room temperature for 5 days, after which the fungicidal activity is recorded by measuring the inhibition zone around each filter paper disk corresponding to different concentrations of FR90128. According to the results, FR90128 has no effect on the growth of Monilinia but it is effective in controlling the hyphal growth of both Botrytis and Phytophtora. There seems to be a clear dose-response in inhibition with threshold concentrations of 10 mg/mL and 1.25 mg/mL for Botrytis and Phytophtora, respectively (FIG. 8).

Example 14 Herbicidal Effect of Burkholderia sp. A396 Formulations (Pre-Emergent)

To begin to describe the spectrum of pre-emergence activity, tests were conducted in petri dish or small pot conditions. In laboratory testing, 35 seeds were placed on a ring of blotter paper inside a 3 cm petri dish and supplied with 4 ml of MBI-010 (≤0.1 mg MBI-005/ml). Water was used as a negative control and oryzalin applied as a positive control. Petri dishes were randomly placed in a growth room at 25° C. and 50% RH. Treatments were replicated three times and germinated seeds were counted 7 and 14 days after application; water was added as necessary to maintain moisture levels inside each petri dish.

In pot testing, potting soil was placed into 4 inch square pot, into which were then inserted five weed tubers, rhizomes or other underground perennation structure, according to species. Pots were drenched with 20 mL MBI-010 at a range of dilutions with water. Treatments, including water as the negative control and glyphosate as the positive control, were replicated five times. Treatments were evaluated visually as number of germinating plants per pot and above-ground fresh weights per container were taken.

Results in Table 14 indicate broad spectrum activity on both annual grasses and broadleaves, as well as on some perennials.

TABLE 14A Pre-Emergent Effect of Burkholderia sp. A396 Formulations Pre-Emergent 010 Plant Species Species Scale Product Category (common name) (scientific name) Rating (lab/GH/field) Embodiment Grass, annual Crabgrass Digitaria ++++ petri dish Supernatant sanguinalis Barnyardgrass Echionochloa ++++ petri dish Supernatant crus-galli Ryegrass Lolium ++++ petri dish Supernatant perenne Late Watergrass Echinochloa + petri dish Supernatant (R) phyllopogon Broadleaf, Mustard Brassica kaber ++++ petri dish Supernatant annual Crimson Clover Trifolium ++++ petri dish Supernatant repens Horseweed (R) Conyza ++++ petri dish Supernatant canadensis Palmer pigweed Amaranthus ++++ petri dish Supernatant (R) palmerii Sdges, Smallflower Cyperus ++++ petri dish Supernatant annual difformis Broadleaf, Field Bindweed Convolvulus ++++ pots Supernatant perennial (root segments) arvensis Sedge, Puple Nutsedge Cyperus + pots Supernatant perennial (tubers) rotundus Rating Scale Rating Pre % Germinaton 0 No Effect  95-100 + Poor 41-95 ++ Fair 16-40 +++ Good  6-15 ++++ Great 0-5 S systemic

Example 15 Herbicidal Effect of Burkholderia sp. A396 Formulations (Post-Emergent)

To begin to describe the spectrum of post-emergence activity, tests were conducted in laboratory and field conditions. For laboratory foliar applications, 3-10 plants (depending on the species) at the 1-2 leaf stage in 2.5 cm square pots containing potting soil were sprayed with MBI-010 at a rate of 40 gal/A using a cabinet track sprayer. Negative controls were sprayed with water and positive controls with glufosinate. Pots were randomly placed in a growth room at 25° C. and 50% RH, and watered as necessary. Treatments were replicated five times and evaluated at 7 and 14 days for visual % damage, with 0% indicating no damage and 100% indicating plant death.

In drench testing, potting soil was placed into 4 inch square pots containing plants at the 2-3 leaf stage. Pots were drenched with 20 mL MBI-010 at a range of dilutions with water. Treatments, including water as the negative control and oryzalin as the positive control, were replicated five times and kept in a growth room as described above. Treatments were evaluated visually on a percent control basis and above-ground fresh weights per container were taken.

In field testing, field soil containing weeds at the 1-5 leaf stage were treated with 50% 010+water solutions delivered via a hand sprayer to full coverage. Treatments, including water as the negative control and glufosinate as the positive control, were replicated 3 times and applied twice at a four week interval. Treatments were assessed for % control.

Results in Table 15 indicate broad spectrum post-emergence activity on broadleaves, with little to no activity on grasses, either applied as a soil drench or as a foliar application.

TABLE 15A Post-Emergent Effect of Burkholderia sp. A396 Formulations. An S indicates an assay that successfully showed systemic activity, a 0 indicates no activity. Species Species Plant (common (scientific Test Scale Product Category name) name) Mode Rating (lab/GH/field) Embodiment Grass, Crabgrass Digitaria Foliar ++++ Greenhouse Prototype annual sanguinalis formulation Crabgrass Digitaria Drench 0 Greenhouse Prototype sanguinalis formulation Barnyardgrass Echinochloa Foliar + Greenhouse Supernatant crusgalli Barnyardgrass Echinochloa Drench 0 Greenhouse Supernatant crusgalli Bluegrass Poa annua Foliar 0 Greenhouse CE Broadleaf, Mustard Brassica Foliar ++++ Greenhouse Supernatant annual kaber Mustard Brassica Drench +++ Greenhouse Supernatant kaber Clover Trifolium Drench ++++ Greenhouse Supernatant repens Lambsquarters Chenopodium Drench ++++ Greenhouse Supernatant album Pigweed Amaranthus Spot +++ Greenhouse CE retroflexus Pigweed Amaranthus Foliar ++++ Greenhouse Supernatant retroflexus Ragweed Ambrosia Foliar S Greenhouse WCB artemisifolia Black Solanum Spot S Greenhouse WCB nightshade nigrum Horseweed Conyza Foliar ++++ Greenhouse CE canadensis Yellow Centaurea Field 0 Field Supernatant Starthistle solstitialis Mallow Malva spp. Field ++ Field Supernatant Shepherd's Capsella Field ++ Field Supernatant Purse bursapastora Henbit Lamium Field 0 Field Supernatant amplexicuale California Medicago Field +++ Field Supernatant burclover polymorpha Cutleaf Geranium Field ++ Field Supernatant geranium dissectum Broadleaf, Dandelion Taraxacum Foliar ++ Greenhouse Supernatant perennial oficinale Dandelion Taraxacum Drench 0 Greenhouse Supernatant oficinale Dandelion Taraxacum Drench & +++ Greenhouse Supernatant oficinale Foliar Bindweed Convolvulus Foliar S Greenhouse WCB arvensis Curly Dock Rumex Foliar ++ Greenhouse CE crispus Crops Fava Beans Foliar ++++ Greenhouse WCB Snap Peas Foliar ++ Greenhouse WCB Cucumber Foliar ++++ Greenhouse WCB Radish Foliar ++++ Greenhouse WCB Tomato Foliar ++++ Greenhouse WCB Bean Foliar ++ Greenhouse WCB Rice Foliar 0 Greenhouse CE Wheat Foliar 0 Greenhouse CE Sorghum Foliar 0 Greenhouse CE Broccoli Foliar 0 Greenhouse CE Peppers Capsicum Drench 0 Greenhouse Supernatant annum Corn Zea mays Foliar 0 Greenhouse CE (conventional) Libert Link Zea mays Foliar 0 Greenhouse CE Corn Peanuts Arachis Foliar + Greenhouse Supernatant hypogaea Rating Post % control Scale Rating 0 0 No effect + 1-50 Poor ++ 51-80  Fair +++ 81-90  Good ++++ 91-100 Great S systemic Systemic CE is concentrated extract; WCB is whole cell broth and Prototype Formulation is whole cell broth with added surfactants (e.g. hostaphat or genapol)

Deposit of Biological Material

The following biological material has been deposited under the terms of the Budapest Treaty with the Agricultural Research Culture Collection (NRRL), 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, Ill. 61604 USA, and given the following number:

Deposit Accession Number Date of Deposit Burkholderia sp. A396 NRRL B-50319 Sep. 15, 2009

The strain has been deposited under conditions that assure that access to the culture will be available during the pendency of this patent application to one determined by the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. § 1.14 and 35 U.S.C. § 122. The deposit represents a substantially pure culture of the deposited strain. The deposit is available as required by foreign patent laws in countries wherein counterparts of the subject application, or its progeny are filed. However, it should be understood that the availability of a deposit does not constitute a license to practice the subject invention in derogation of patent rights granted by government action.

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific aspects herein disclosed, since these aspects are intended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent aspects are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. In the case of conflict, the present disclosure including definitions will control.

Various references are cited herein, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method for inhibiting one or more weeds comprising the step of: applying to the weeds an effective amount of a fermented composition comprising a whole cell broth, cell fraction, filtrate, supernatant, or extract from a Burkholderia strain A396 (NRRL Accession No. B-50319) fermentation, and glyphosate, to inhibit said one or more weeds.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said fermented composition further comprises one or more chemical and/or biological herbicides.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said fermented composition further comprises one or more carriers, diluent, surfactants, and/or adjuvants.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said fermented composition further comprises Templazole A, Templazole B, or both.
 5. An herbicidal composition comprising: an effective amount of a whole cell broth, cell fraction, filtrate, supernatant, or extract from a Burkholderia strain A396 (NRRL Accession No. B-50319) fermentation; and a glyphosate.
 6. The composition of claim 5, wherein said fermented composition further comprises one or more chemical and/or biological herbicide.
 7. The composition of claim 5, further comprising one or more carriers, diluent, surfactants, and/or adjuvants.
 8. The composition of claim 5, further comprising Templazole A, Templazole B or both. 